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GEMS OF THOUGHT. 



VICTORIA MUNGER. 



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Clark W. Bryan & Co. 

printers, 

Springfield, Mass. 






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DEDICATION. 

TO 

THE MEMORY OF MY BELOVED HUSBAND, 

ALEXANDER V. HUNGER, 

FOR 

MANY YEARS A SUFFERER FROM THE WAR 

OF THE REBELLION. 



As soldier, as husband, 

Faithful in all ; 
And now gone to answer 

The last "roll-call." 



INTRODUCTION. 



I place tAis little volume before the public in all humil- 
ity, conscious that no embellishment has been employed, 
but only "plain thoughts 

In plainest style expressed ;" 

Desiring they may do good, 
With God I leave the rest. 

The Author. 
Holyoke, Mass., October 8th, 1889. 



CONTENTS. 





PAGE 




PAGE 


Thoughts on a Sermon, 


7 


With All of Your Might, 


73 


Lines on the Death of . 


1 


Tell Me of Jerusalem, 


75 


Friendless Woman, 


lO 


I will Sing unto the Lord, 


77 


A Sermon of Life, 


II 


I Know that I shall be 


Never Turn Back, 


13 


Happy, . 


■ 78 


Duty, .... 


15 


"I Find No Fault in Him,' 


81 


Step by Step, 


17 


"The Books were Opened, 


' 83 


Come, .... 


20 


Beautiful Things, 


86 


Lines : To My Mother, 


20 


" Whatsoever you Do," 


88 


The Outlook, 


23 


That Beautiful Land, 


90 


The Sermon of the Sea 




The Bow of Promise, 


92 


sons. 


25 


The Book of the Lord, 


94 


Self Reliance, 


27 


Denied His Lord, 


96 


The Power of Prayer, 


31 


Sabbath, 


97 


Religion, 


33 


Checkmated, 


98 


Life, .... 


36 


Drifting, 


102 


The Answered Prayer, 


39 


The Road to Happiness, 


104 


"We all do Fade as the 




Not far Me, 


106 


Leaf," . 


41 


Lines : To Rev. Oliver 




If, 


43 


Crane, D. D., . 


109 


" Bear Ye One Another's 




Autumn, 


III 


Burdens," 


45 


Awakening, 


113 


"Fear Not," 


47 


Do Right, . 


116 


"Our Help," . 


49 


He Giveth His Beloved 


I 


As Thou Wilt, . 


52 


Sleep, .... 


118 


Wisdom, . . . . 


53 


Little Things, . 


120 


If the World Were Only 




Life's Lessons, . 


122 


Better, . . . . 


55 


Follow Him, 


125 


Life: A Lesson, 


70 


Sowing and Reaping, 


127 



CONTENTS. 



All is Well, 

I Know, 

Rest, . 

Over the Waters, 

Pearl of Great Price, 

Lines : To My Husband, 

Heart Murmurings Stilled, 

The Sacrifice, 

I Want to be Up There, 

A Few Months Hence, 

Life's Comparison, 

Our Future, 

The Reality of Life, 

My Trust, . 

Weary Pilgrim, Rest, 

A Vision of Home, 

They Miss Me, . 

Invocation, 

Convalescent, 

Autumn Reflections, 

Waiting for the Morning, 



PAGE 

129 

132 
134 
136 

139 
141 

143 
145 
147 
150 

153 
154 

157 
159 

162 
164 

166 
168 

170 

172 
174 





PAGE 


Duty, ..... 


176 


Let Me Go, 


178 


Toil On, ... . 


180 


Songs in the Night, . 


182 


Prayer for Divine Aid, 


183 


Home and Heaven, . 


184 


Lines: To Miss Helen 




Chapman, 


187 


The Two Sifters, 


189 


Consecration, . ... 


192 


Come Unto Me, 


193 


The Second Coming, 


194 


The Christian Volunteer, . 


196 


In Memoriam, 


197 


Coming to the Jordan, 


199 


Foreknown, 


200 


Be Not Faithless, but Be- 




lieve, , . . . 


202 


Eventide, .... 


204 


He will Meet us at the Bar, 


206 



THOUGHTS ON A SERMON. 

"What I have written, I have written." — John xix : 22. 

Suggested after listening to a sermon delivered in the Second Baptist Church, 
Holyoke,by Rev. J. B. Robinson of West Springfield, and rendered in verse oa the 
day following By the Author. 

May 2S, 1883. 

I see a vision of the cross, 

And He who died thereon ; 
I see the Jewish rabble mock 

The sufferings of God's Son. 
I hear the prayer He raised for them, 

As now He prays for you. 
Father in heaven forgive them, 

For they know not what they do. 

And now I see the inscription, 

And I hear Pilate say, 
" What I have written, I have written," 

And I cannot take away. 
We are writing, fellow mortals. 

Characters that cannot die ; 
Be they good or be they evil, 

To be read by worlds on high. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

When with the assembled millions, 

We shall stand before the throne, 
And all the secrets of our hearts 

And lives shall be made known. 
Do you not think, my brother, 

That our cheeks will blanche with shame, 
When we read the written record 

Standing opposite our names ? 

All the unkind words that uttered, 

Caused another's heart to bleed ; 
All the words we might have spoken, 

To a brother in his need ; 
All these will come up before us, 

Every deed that we have done ; 
And each sinful thought and action, 

We shall see them, every one. 

Many lines that we have written, 
We would give worlds to unwrite ; 

Or, that we might have the power 
To obliterate from sieht. 

What we have written we have written, 
Naught will wipe those lines away ; 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 



We shall read their dreadful import, 
In the coming Judgment day. 

Think not your example worthless, 

When no fruit of it you see ; 
For the lines that you are writing. 

Are written for eternity. 
Know you not, we all are teachers, 

Though unconscious on our part ; 
Yet we all are writing something. 

On the tablet of some heart. 

When the " Books of God " are opened. 

What shall then our record be ? 
For the lines we now are writing. 

Make or mar our destiny. 
We have no ^zme to be careless. 

For each idle word we say, 
We shall find them all recorded 

On the final Judgment day. 

Hark ! I hear the great physician. 
Speak from Heaven's open door; 

I will blot out thy transgressions, 
And remember them no more. 



lO GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

Do not hesitate, my brother, 
There is no time for delay ? 

Do you want the blood of Jesus 
Now to wash your sins away ? 



■LINES ON THE DEATH OF A 

FRIENDLESS WOMAN, 

WHO WAS LEFT BY HER CHILDREN TO DIE NEG- 
LECTED AND ALONE. 

Long she had toiled for a home below, 
Knew none of its comforts but all of its woe ; 
'Till the Savior called her away in love, 
To rejoin her friends in a home above. 

CHORUS. 

Where are the mourners ? Who will shed 
A kindly tear for the lately dead ? 
O where are the mourners ? Who will come, 
To bear her away to her last long home? 



GEMS OF THOUGHT.. II 

Where are the children, Oh ! where are they ? 
Who in their childhood she taught to pray. 
Where are the children ? she toiled to feed, 
Were none of them near in her bitter need ? 

The heart of a child may grow selfish and cold, 
When the footsteps of parents are feeble and 

old; 
Then their prayers go up to the great white 

throne 
And the Father, in mercy calls his own. 

The mother's grave may neglected lie, 
And no tear dim the unfeeling eye ; 
But angels will drop on the verdant sod, 
The tears that arose with her prayers to God. 



A SERMON OF LIFE. 

There are depths we may not fathom. 
There are heights we may not scan ; 

God in his infinite justice. 

Knows the wisdom of his plan. 



12 • GEMS OF THOUGHT. 



Where we cannot see, we'll trust him, 
With a willing childlike trust ; 

He will not forsake or leave us, 
For he knows our frame is dust. 

In the deepest depths of ocean, 
Lie the pearls of greatest price ; 

And the noblest human natures, 
Make the greatest sacrifice. 

Even the trials that we shrink from, 
Make the gold to brighter shine ; 

'Till we stand at last completed, 
With a workmanship divine. 

In the darkness of the valley, 
Gloomy shadows fill the place ; 

And the mist upon the mountains, 
Veils the glories of his face. 

So whatever our condition, 
We can never plainly see ; 

But are groping in the shadow 
Of a vague uncertainty. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 13 



Such is life, whose fleeting phantoms 
Fill the measure of our day ; 

Nothing real, nothing certain, 
But that we must pass away. 



NEVER TURN BACK. 

A SERMON OF ENCOURAGEMENT. 
Composed in the Hadley Company's thread mill, Holyoke, Mass , May 25, 1883. 

Do your feet on the rock of Christ Jesus 

stand ? 
Then fear not the storm on sea or on land. 
If your motive is good, and you're on the right 

track. 
Press forward ! my brother, and never turn 

back. 

Press forward ! my brother ; though the way 

may be rough. 
There's success at the ending, and that is 

enough ; 



14 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

Though clouds gather round you, and dangers 

assail, 
If you'r anchored in Jesus, they cannot prevail. 

The wealth that the world is so eager to 

gain. 
Will but bring you remorse and fill you with 

pain ; 
Though your way may be dark, you nothing 

shall lack 
While you stick to the motto of Never turn 

Back. 

Discouraged and weary, your heart m^ay oft 

bleed ; 
There's an ear that is open to all of your 

need ; 
The hope that is built on the promise of God 
Will live when our bodies are under the sod. 

Press forward ! my brother, we are all pilgrims 

here, 
And the end of our journey we know not how 

near ; > 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 



IS 



Of one thing we're certain, when on the rio-ht 

track, 
We'll reach the port at last, if we never turn 

back. 



Then press forward, brother, e'er the set of 

the sun. 
Your day will soon close, and your work will 

be done. 
In keeping his promises, God is not slack. 
You'll receive your reward if you never turn 

back. 



DUTY. 



" Return to thine own house, and show how great things God 
hath done unto thee." — Luke viii : 39. 

Yes ! return to thine house, 

To thy kith and thy kin ; 
Tell them of a Savior 

Who hath ransomed from sin. 
Go, tell them of His love, 

For perchance you may win 



l6 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

The heart of some loved one 
From the darkness within. 

Yes ! return to thine house, 

Though the world may be wide, 
Thou art needed the most 

At thine own fireside ; 
They will listen to you, 

When your changed life they see, 
And the force of example 

Shall win them to Me. 

With deeds of rare kindness 

Win the hearts that are cold ; 
Go and gather the lambs 

Of My flock in the fold ; 
If indeed you love Me, 

All your actions w^ill show, 
And men will take knowledge 

Wherever you go. 

I do not send you out 
For to battle with sin, 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 1 7 

But to keep all your lamps 
Trimmed and burning within. 

Even Satan himself 

Fails a foothold to gain 

Where Love holds the balance, 
And duty is plain. 



"STEP BY STEP." 

" My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not." — Proverbs. 

Step by step, be it ever so slow, 
Something v^^ gain or lose as we go ; 
We may rise, or may fall, just as we will, 
'Tis a law of Nature, we may not stand still. 

Carelessly, down the river of Time, 

A floating wreck, 'mid drift-wood and slime ; 

If you make no effort to stem the tide, 

It will bear you down to the cess-pool vvide. 

Step by step, even the best 7nay fall, 
For the downward road is open to all, 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 



And so gradual is the course you take, 
You will never notice the change you make ; 

Until you are borne so far each day, 
You cannot again retrace your way ; 
Thus we grow weary and tempest tossed, 
Thus many a soul to Christ is lost. 

Step by step, though but little at first, 

The more rapid strides belong to the worst ; 

Little by little we sin again, 

It leaves its impress on heart and brain. 

The voice of conscience becomes less clear, 
Until its warning we cease to hear; 
We grow to think less of what is right, 
And the soul sinks down in eternal night. 

Would you shun the evil ? Listen, boys, 
Be careful how you select your joys ; 
Remember, 'tis when you first begin, 
Before you acquire a taste for sin. 

When the wine glows red within the cup, 
Before it has eaten your honor up ; 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 1 9 

When the tempting puff of the sweet cigar 
Is wafted along on the breeze afar ; 

And the flaming signboard calls you in, 
Beware, 'tis the first approach of Sin ; 
And they who seek to entice you there 
Are helping to spread the Devil's snare. 

Now do not say this does not hit you. 
You know and feel that my words are true. 
And the only way to resist the tide 
Is to bravely pass on the other side. 

For 'tis only a step from wrong to right, 
Only a step from darkness to light ; 
So easy to take, so hard to reclaim 
Is a soul once lost to the sense of shame. 

Step by step, be it ever so slow, 
Something we gain or lose as we go ; 
We may rise or may fall, just as we will, 
'Tis a law of Being, we cannot stand still. 



2 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 



"COME!" 

" Behold, I come quickly." — Revelation xxii : 7. 

My mother, in her last moments, extended her hand to me, saying, almost witb 
her jast breath, "Come! " 

I know my time has not come yet, 
A few more suns must rise and set, 
A few more trembling hopes and fears 
Go down within the lapse of years ; 
A few temptations I must shun, 
A few good deeds must yet be done. 
Heart strings be severed one by one, 
And then, dear mother, I will come ! 



LINES: 

RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED TO MY MOTHER, 

CHARLOTTE CHAPIN SPENCER, 

Who died May 20, 1876, aged 62 years, 11 months and 22 days. 

Her children shall rise up and call her blessed. — Proverbs xxxi : 28. 

All her griefs and toils are o'er, 
Ne'er to suffer any more; 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 2 1 



Jesus opens wide the door, — 
Weary mother, rest ! 

Hard the road thy feet have trod, 
Heavy was the chastening rod ; 
Leaning only on thy God, 
Thou hast walked alone ! 

Not the jeers of all thy foes, 
Not thy mortal pains and woes. 
Had the power to disclose 
One unchristian deed. 

Though above the grovelling herd, 
Yet thy sympathies were stirred ; 
Many a look and kindly word 
Bear record of thee. 

Though the means at thy command 
Was not large, yet from thy hand 
Blessings, like rain on thirsty land, 
Cheered the fainting heart. 

Those poor, aching, tired feet 
No more obstacles will meet. 



22 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

They now walk the golden street 
In Immanuel's land. 

Here thy aspirations high 
Found no kindred spirit nigh, 
Soaring now above the sky, 

With the ransomed throng. 

With pure minds so like thine own, 
Never more to feel alone ; 
Ne'er to hear harsh word or tone 
Will be Heaven indeed ! 

Few hearts understood thee here, 
But to one thou wert most dear ; 
Mother ! I shall long revere 
Thy sacred memory. 

Rough my path in life may be ; 
Dark or bright the days I see; 
Yet the memory of thee 
Will uphold my heart. 

All thy patie7it, loving care^ 
Many tears, and life of prayer. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 23 

In which I have held a share, 
Will not be in vain ! 

When this weary day is done, 
When life's tangled web is spun, 
To those realms above the sun, 
Mother, I will come ! 



"THE OUTLOOK." 

"Whomsoever the Lord loveth, he chasteneth." 

The hour is dark, dear Father. 
My path seems hedged about ; 
I cannot now see clearly, 
To where it leadeth out; 
I know above the cloudland. 
The sun shines bright and clear, 
And why the way is clouded, 
It doth not now^ appear. 

Perhaps could I see clearly, 
I might have careless grown ; 



2 4 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

Might have forgot my duty, 

And cared for self alone ; 

But thou dear Lord hast led me. 

In such a tender way, 

That I would fain acknowledge 

Thy loving care each day. 

Though huge mountains seem to rise, 
My feet can never scale ; 
I'll trust him to remove them. 
Whose word can never fail. 
It may be ere I reach them 
That they will fade from sight ; 
And these dark clouds be riven, 
With thine effulgent light. 

I know my faith grows stronger. 
With each trial I endure ; 
Trials are the crucibles 
That make thy children pure ; 
Give me the faith to trust thee 
The remnant of my days. 
And I shall see the wisdom 
Of all thy works and ways. 



THE SERMON OF THE SEASONS, 



When the fig tree putteth forth leaves, ye say behold the summer is at hand." 



The spring-time has come, beautiful sprin 
The birds and the bees are on the wino-- 
Cold winters reign has passed away, 
Again we mark the lengthened day, 
So the seasons in their term, 
Each bear a lesson, we may learn ; 
We may not pause but journey on, 
Until our pilgrimage is done. 

Youths fair spring-time bids ^dieu, 
To all that seemed so fair and true; 
The fervid heats of summer try 
Our souls, but still we reason why. 
We cannot tell, and yet we know, 
Thus fades mortality below. 
The rich, the poor, the false, the brave. 
Will rest alike within the erave. 



26 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

And pride, poor substitute for worth. 
Must make her bed of common earth ; 
Titles and dignities decay, 
And forms of greatness pass away; 
But know and mark the upright man, 
Whose life has neared the shortest span; 
Patient he waits the soul's release, 
The end of such a one is peace. 

Peace to the earth from winter's reign. 
Peace to our hearts that would complain, 
And as the seasons come and go. 
From ruddy spring to winter's snow; 
We feel our confidence at rest. 
He doeth all things for the best. 
'Mid all life's changes, come what will, 
We've trusted him, we'll trust him still. 



SELF RELIANCE. 

I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things." — Corinthians 7 : 16 

Have confidence in thyself, 
And lean not on a brother ; 
For what thou cans't not do, 
Entrust not to another. 

Of all wisdom to be bought. 
This kind is cheap by earning; 
An ounce of " self-reliance " 
Is worth a pound of learning. 

Go through the world, where e'er you will 
You'll find this truth apparent ; 
That they who best succeed in life. 
Are those who're " self-reliant." 

Work with a will and let your work, 
Have much of method in it ; 
For what is worthy to be won, 
Is worth a race to win it. 



28 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

Have confidence in every plan ; 
Whereby you would excel ; 
It is by far the safest course, 
Of any I can tell. 

And should huge obstacles arise, 
As barriers in your way ; 
Do not give up, but resolute, 
Perform your task each day. 

A want of confidence begets 
A lack of it in others ; 
Until we almost quite forget 
That all mankind are brothers. 

Then in whatever sphere in life. 
We each are called to labor ; 
We need more "confidence" in God, 
Ourselves and in our neighbor. 

And what a heaven on earth 'twould seem, 

If each of us possessed, 

This priceless jewel confidence 

Deep seated in the breast. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 29 



Friendship would be a holy flame, 
And love endure forever; 
And this life be a sweet foretaste, 
Of Life beyond the River. 



Whatever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. Colossians 
hi : 23. 

Never hesitate a moment, 
When a orood deed's to be done ; 
Do it with a right good pleasure, 
Cheerfully to every one. 

But if evil thoughts come o'er thee, 
Tempting though they may appear; 
Do not wrong a fellow creature. 
Pause and keep thy conscience clean 

Never hesitate to labor 
For an honest, noble cause ; 
Though it yield for thee no Laurels, 
Nor a fickle world's applause. 



30 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

But if tempted to an action, 

Which would tinge thy cheek with shame, 

Better pause, and reconsider, 

Than for gold to sell a name. 

If you see a brother sinning, 

Add not bitterness to gall ; 

Seek at once some power to win him, 

You may be the next to fall. 

Human strength you know is weakness, 
Be thou slow to add thy voice ; 
For in what the world condemns him ; 
May have been his only choice. 

Haste thou on from love to duty, 
Let her watchword light thy day ; 
And whatever cares await thee, 
'Twill be pleasant all the way. 

Pleasant when your work is ended. 
And you mark the progress made; 
Each good deed you'll find a jewel, 
In a crown that will not fade. 



THE POWER OF PRAYER. 

Suggested from the sermon of Rev. A. S. Vaughn, of Hammonton, New Jer- 
sey, from the text, "And thou shalt teach ihem diligently unto thy children, and 
shall talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, 
and when thou best down, and when thou riseth up." — Deut. vi. : 7. 

In the gentle, budding spring-time, 
Let us guard the tender flower; 
For the evils that we dread most, 
Come in an unlooked for hour; 
And the tender little floweret, 
Gladdening our weary sight, 
Oft by noxious weeds is shaded, 
'Till it dies for want of light. 

Parents like this truthful lesson 
To your hearts and homes to-day ; 
If you'd have your children prosper, 
They must early learn to pray. 
Do you fear the world may lead them, 
Into many a wicked snare ? 
There is nothing half so potent, 
As a mother's earnest prayer. 



32 GExMS OF THOUGHT. 

Do not fear to plead with Jesus, 
When by doubt and care oppressed ; 
He will aid you in each trial, 
For He knoweth what is best. 
Let the worldly seek for riches. 
Stocks and bonds, a goodly share, 
They would not weigh in the balance, 
With a mother's tender prayer. 

Now I think me of my childhood 
Years have passed away since then ; 
All the earnest admonition. 
The advice by tongue and pen. 
All are precious to my memory, 
But none ever can compare 
To my mother's hallowed presence^ 
In the secret hour of prayer. 



RELIGION. 

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the 
fatherless and widows in iheir affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the 
world." — James i: 27. 

Reli2:ion, 'tis a boundless theme, 
Whose height and depth no eye hath seen, 
Vaster than ocean in its flow, 
And mightier than ought below; 
It moves the heart, controls the fate 
Of thousands in our ship of State ; 
And yet this powerful Agent rests, 
A still, small flame within the breast. 

And by its pure and holy light, 
Men walk by faith and less by sight ; 
When trials like a cloud surround. 
And scarce a ray of hope is found. 
Then to the soul by grief oppressed, 
'Tis ever found a welcome guest; 
And where it finds a resting place, 
It clothes the poorest form with grace. 



34 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

But not to every one is given, 

To wear the vestry robe of heaven; 

For oh ! it is a sickening sight, 

That chills the blood within us quite ; 

And stands a barrier every-day. 

Against thy pure and gentle sway, 

To see men publicly profess. 

Yet not one spark of love possess. 

Their scrupulous eye to outward show, 
Will please the worldly mind, you know ; 
But then to kneel and offer prayer. 
When not one thought of God is there; 
To plead aloud, the orphan's cause. 
With honeyed words, and choking pause ; 
Such acting prayer will never win it, 
Unless, poor soul, your heart be in it. 

For envy, avarice and pride, 

Our risen Lord once crucified ; 

And from that self-same day to this, 

Judas betrays men with a kiss. 

Religion's robe they only wear, 

To make the outward seem more fair; 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 35 

And their unbridled passions hide, 
That pierce anew His bleeding side. 

Eager to let their light so shine, 

That men their good works shall divine, 

They hold their flickering lamp so high, 

That worldly people wonder why, 

If religion is reality, 

So many glaring faults they see ; 

That flowery speeches, lacking sense, 

Should mark the men of great pretense. 

While modest worth, so often lies 
Concealed from gaze of ruder eyes ; 
And though the masses never see, 
Her quiet grace and dignity; 
There is an eye that never sleeps 
O'er mortal man a vigil keeps ; 
You may mislead the worldly mind. 
Be not deceived, God is not blind. 

Christian thy cross is hard to bear. 
Go lay on Jesus all thy care ; 
Trust him, the way will not be long, 
Be brave to bear and suffer wrong ; 



36 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

For dives the sacrament may wait, 
While Lazarus stands outside the gate ; 
Each of their day, so fades renown, 
Who bears the cross, shall wear the crown. 



LIFE. 



" For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worlicth for us a far more 
exceeding, and eternal weight of glory." - II Corinthians iv : 17. 

Sunlight and shadow, light and shade, 
So the frail web of life is made, 
A woof of dark, a thread of light, 
Close interwoven meet the sight ; 
So close to joy, does sorrow tread. 
So soon the hopes of life are fled ; 
How short a distance lies between 
The cradle and the death-bed scene. 

With life uncertain, death so sure, 
With much to dare, much to endure, 
With hope and expectation high, 
Impetuous youth soon hastens by. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 



37 



How different the world we own, 
When sober reason takes her throne, 
This Hfe and all its joys appear, 
Of little worth when death is near. 

In vain we snatch at gilded straws, 
In vain ignore creation's laws ; 
Lift up our heads in worldly pride, 
While death stalks grimly by our side ; 
In vain men seek, and pray for fame 
That shall endure beyond a name, 
But God by a diviner plan. 
Works out the destiny of man. 

With trials fierce, with trials long, 
God teaches us His arm is strong; 
Youth's blasted hopes, life's wasting sands. 
Reveal the weakness of our hands ; 
The friend whose smile lit up our ways. 
The warm and true of other days, 
Forsaking when we most confide. 
Remind us of "The crucified." 



38 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

How firm a hold our faith acquires, 
How few our lingering desires ; 
How^ little worth the gilded show, 
That spell-bound us in years ago ? 
Thank God that when youth is no more, 
When her delusive dreams are o'er, 
We have a promise set on high, 
A hope that is not born to die. 

And this shall cheer the droooino; heart, 
Through life, 'till soul and body part; 
A lamp that shines w^ith steady ray, 
To guide us in the " narrow way ;" 
When we shall reach the other shore, 
And meet the loved who went before, 
Our Father's smile shall w^ell repay, 
Our bitter tears along the way. 



THE ANSWERED PRAYER. 

" Having your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace." Ephesians 
6:15. 

It was years ago, so long, I fear 
That you may fail to remember here ; 
How a sainted mother clasped her boy. 
Her hope in age, and her pride and joy; 
And looking on, through the mist of years, 
Through gathering doubts and gloomy fears, 
She saw his path-way in life beset 
With the wily foe that is tempting yet. 

And raising her eyes like heaven's blue, 
She prayed that prayer that is ever new, 
" Dear Father in Heaven spare my child ! 
When waves are high and the tempest wild. 
Yea ! guide him through the battle of life, 
To the Port of Peace, and the end of strife ; 
Lest he fail the narrow path to choose, 
Let his feet be shod with the 'Gospel Shoes.' " 



40 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

The years passed away, for such is fate, 
While the boy grew up to man's estate;. 
The mother who offered that earnest prayer, 
Was called away from a world of care. 
Forgotten, the earnest voice that plead, 
Forgotten, were all the words she said; 
The world moved on as it always will. 
When all of our beating hearts are still. 

His course was a record hard to hear, 
'Twas spent in a sailor's mad career ; 
As he feared not God or man, 'twas said, 
That a very lawless life he led. 
But time, that waits not for you or me. 
Bore him alono: to the voiceless sea. 
We see him enfeebled now with age. 
As he nears the close of his heritage. 

His hearing fails, and his eyes grow dim. 
What is it in sleep that troubles him ? 
A vision of one v\rho passed away 
Long years ago, but he hears her pray. 
That has long since gone to the spirit land, 
And he feels the pressure of that hand. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 4I 

" Lest he fail the narrow path to choose, 

Let his feet be shod with the ' Gospel Shoes.'" 

He wakes from sleep, but he seems to hear 
Her voice ring out in the stillness clear; 
Then he wonders if he still could use 
His worn-out feet in the " Gospel Shoes." 
And the angels wept for joy that day, 
When an aged sailor knelt to pray ; 
While Svv^eet Peace made her dwelling there, 
And this was the answer to her prayer. 



"WE ALL DO FADE AS THE LEAF." 

Isaiah Ixiv : 6. 

We all do fade as the leaf, 
One after another we fall ; 
Joy walks in the footsteps of grief, 
But death is the lot of us all. 
We plan what our future shall be, 
We toil, but we labor in vain ; 
As the leaf descends from the tree, 
We fall to rise not again. 



42 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

The tree is not dead, nor the bough, ' 
Though the leaf may fade from our view ; 
When the breath of spring fans our brow, 
Our God will reclothe them anew. 
So when we are faded and dead, 
And passed from our earth-life away ; 
Will others rise up in our steady 
As worthy as we are to-day. 

Nothing lives to itself or in vain, 
Each a duty has to perform ; 
The sunshine comes after the rain. 
And the rainbow after the storm. 
When the little leaf has fulfilled 
Its mission, it passes away ; 
The dews it to heaven distilled, 
In showers will gladden our way. 

While in all creation around, 
God's love we so plainly descry ; 
Shall man with his wisdom profound. 
The name of his maker deny ? 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 



43 



Rather like the leaf on the tree, 
Or the tender blade of the sod ; 
Let us speak out boldly and free, 
Of the love and mercy of God, 



IF. 



" For if the first fruit be holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root be holy so 
are the branches." — Romans xi : i6. 



If mankind were only conscious, 
Of the worth of little things ; 
If they knew the untold anguish 
That unkindness often brings. 
They would not oppress each other. 
Crushing out Life's noblest gift; 
They would not tread down a brother, 
Whom their kindness best could lift. 

If it were not for deception, 
When the heart is full of guile ; 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 



If the faces that we look on, 
Wore no outward mask the while, 
Then indeed would Christian virtues. 
In our very midst have svvay ; 
And sincerity and honor, 
Be the aim of every day. 

If religion were not acted. 

Like a farce upon the stage ; 

If men sought for inspiration. 

From the Scripture's holy page ; 

How their hearts would warm within them. 

Burning with a sacred fire. 

Doing good to all around them, 

Until bidden, come up higher. 

If the world thought less of pleasure, 

Less of selfishness and greed ; 

More of earnest, honest labor, 

Less of preaching idle creed; 

Love would spring up all unbidden. 

Peace and order reign supreme. 

And the hoped and wished millennium 

Would not be an idle dream. 



6: 2. 



Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. "—Galatians 

Give me the honest heart, 
That thinks no guile ; 
That hides not evil deeds 
Behind a smile. 

A heart that throbs for woes 
Besides its own ; 
And is not wholly moved 
By self alone. 

Give me the willing hand 
That toils each day ; 
Nor ever stops to find 
An easier way. 

Content that love should be 
Its guiding star; 
While reason points a way, 
That seems not far. 



46 GEMS OF THOUGHT, 

The feet that most on deeds 
Of mercy run ; 
Lips that have trusting said, 
Thy will be done. 

Whose words of sound advice, 
When given at all ; 
Sink deep, like thirsty ground. 
When rain-drops fall. 

Such friends are far between. 
Yet they exist ; 

And when by death removed, 
How they are missed. 

As the bright sun, that sinks 
From sight at even ; 
Or star that fades, from out 
The vault of Heaven. 



"Fear not little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the king- 
dom."— St. Luke 12 : 32. 

Fear not little flock, 
Though thy numbers be few ; 
Our Father in Heaven, 
Hath much need of you. 
Let his promise then, cheer 
Thee, wherever thou art ; 
And bind his commandments 
Close, close to thy heart. 

Unto such as have faith, 

On his promise to live, 

'Tis thy Father's good pleasure 

His kingdom to give. 

Then gird up thy loins. 

In the strength of his might. 

And trim well thy lamp, 

That the world may have light. • 

Remember the Psalmist, 
Of whom it is told; 



48 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

From the time he was young 
To the day he was old, 
That he never had seen 
All the way he w^as led, 
The righteous forsaken ; 
Or his seed begging bread. 

If we ask pf the Lord, 
It will not be in vain ; 
For he knoweth our needs, 
Though we should not complain. 
The trials of this life, 
Put our faith to the test ; 
And God answers our prayers 
As it seems to him best. 

Then be thou not dismayed. 
If the Lord is thy friend ; 
Then thou surely hast one 
Who will always defend ; 
We have reason for joy, 
Tne half cannot be told, 
Since the good Shepherd has 
Numbered us in his fold. 



124: 



" Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth." — Psalms 

Art thou a wife ? 
Hast thou a husband dear? 

On whom thou leanest, 
All thy journey here ? 

It may be well 
With thee a few short years, 

While Love and Hope, 
Twin stars thy pathway cheers. 

But well we know. 
No mortal can withstand, 

The touch of time's 
Cold and relentless hand ; 

And if perchance 
You should be called some day, 

To mourn a face, 
Hid from your sight away, — 

Say when you feel. 
You stand alone in grief, 



50 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

No tender voice 
To whisper you relief ; — 

Where would you look 
But to the Lamb of God ? 

Whose hand conveys 
The blessing and the rod ? 

Art thou a mother ? 
Hast fondly to thy breast 

Clasped thy first born, 
And lulled it into rest ? 

Hast seen her grow, 
More lovely day by day, 

Until she seemed 
, An angel here at play ? 

Say if compelled, 
To lay that golden head 

Low in the dust, 
And speak of her as dead ; 

Would not your soul 
Cry out in anguish wild ? 

Take me, Father ! 
But spare, oh, spare my child 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 5 1 

Then why not give 
Thyself to him to-day ? 

While health and strength 
Are thine, do not delay ! 

Give Christ a thought, 
Give him an earnest prayer, 

Seek Heaven thy home, 
And thou shalt enter* there. 

Give him thine heart ! 
Ask his protecting care, 

For thee and thine. 
And he will hear thy prayer ; 

The poor on earth 
May Heavenly treasures see ; 

And toiling here. 
Rest through eternity. 



'"' Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." — Matthew 26 : 39. 

Life is a mystery, intricate and dark, 
The past we know, the present full of woe, 
Points to the future, and the goal we mark 
Buoyed up by ^ope, or dread the cruel blow 
Of some unforseen fate. 

Alas ! The portentious book is sealed, 
We may not read our individual destiny ; 
Nor lightly pass o'er pages that would sadden us 
But page by page the angel turns to view. 
And some with joy we read, and some 
With blinding tears and agony of soul. 

Remorseless fate, heeds not the wail 
Of orphanSj nor the prayers of more 
Than widowed wives ; deaf eared 
She turns life's pages one by one. 
And hurrying past the brighter scenes. 
Dwells longest, where it pains our hearts to read 

What matters it 
Though shadows gather thick and fast, 
About the path I tread ? 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 53 

I walk by Faith, the inner light revealing, 
Nor trust to sense of sight alone. 

Though cruel fate, obscure 
Life's early morning, and clouds o'ercast 
The welcome noon-day sun ; 
Vain would it be, for me to idly murmur, 
Better, far better say, " Thy will be done." 



" Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understand- 
ing. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the 
gain thereof than fine gold." — Proverbs 3 : 13, 14. 

There's a flower that blooms in the solitude, 

So far from the haunts of men, 

That the seekers of pleasure far and wide, 

But meet with it now and then ; 

Yet its beauty is praised in the festive hall. 

While fashion and wealth agree ; 

That the breath of its perfume is sweeter by far. 

Than spices from over the sea. 

And men have sought from dawn until night, 
Through jungles of deepest gloom ; 



54 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

O'er marsh and moor, to be crowned with 

success, 
Or impaled in a living tomb. 
For gold is the price, and men barter their lives, 
To gather it hour by hour ; 
Even Heaven itself is second in charm, 
Like this rare and beautiful flower. 

So virtue and truth, though rare to be found, 

And above all value and price ; 

Too often are sold for distinction and wealth. 

And linked with passion and vice. 

Though honor and truth are the safeguards of 
youth, 

We early in childhood were told ; 

Yet struggling through life, it as nothing com- 
pares, 

When weighed in the balance with gola. 

The glittering tinsel will wear for a day, 
Though false as fickle its reign ; 
And beauty and genius may bow to its sway. 
But truth shall eternal remain. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 55 



The flower borne from its wildnerness home, 
Sheds perfume for every land ; 
And down-trodden genius, attains to a name 
That wealth could never command. 



"Who hath woe ? Who hath sorrow ? Who hath contention ? Who hath bab- 
bling ? Who hath wounds without cause ? Who hath redness of eyes ? They that 
tarry long at the wine. They that go to seek mixed wine. 

"Look not thou upon the wine, when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the 
cup. At the last it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder." — Proverbs 23 
29, 32. 

If the world were only better 
If man would not stoop to sin ; 
O, what glorious fruition, 
In the land of might have been. 

If it were not for temptation, 
In her thousand varied forms ; 
Men and angels scarce would differ, 
Life would loose its fiercest storms. 

If there were no gaming tables, 
If there were no stakes to win. 
E'en Faust and Mephistopheles 
Might both have been honest men. 



56 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

If 'twere not for drinking houses, 
Where men sell the priceless soul; 
Wealth, position, fame, distinction, ' 
Drown within the flaming bowl. 

Then might men though weak by nature, 
Assert creations glorious plan ; 
Bearing thus the Maker's image, 
Become the noble whole-souled man. 

Alas, that in fair Eden grew. 
That tempting tree, that tempting tree ; 
Whose root has spread in every form. 
Whose fruit is death eternally. 

So much in prelude, reader kind, 
To introduce a story, true 
And may the moral it conveys, 
To man, be not soon lost to view. 

'Tis of an artless little girl, 
Whose faultless innocence and grace. 
Spoke in each word and look and tone, 
And shone from out her fair young face. 



4 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 57 

A drunkard s daughter, bitter thought, 
To cloud for her Hfe's early morn ; 
Yet what sweet buds, what precious germs. 
The lonely walks of life adorn. 

A father, kind, when not in drink, 
How many have we known just so ? 
A mother, praying, weeping as 
Only a mother's tears can flow. 

O, alcohol, thou maddening curse, 
Thou bane of every social bliss ; 
Not all the woes that life attend, 
Can fire the brain like unto this. 

*' If they wouldn't let him have it," 
And Mrs. Leslie wept again ; 
" Oh ! If they wouldn't sell him liquor, 
He'd be the very best of men." 

" He never keeps 'it in the house, 
And would be sober but it's plain ; 
He cannot pass old Jenks' tavern, 
Hard by the corner of the lane." 



58 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

Thus spake she to a neighbor kind, 
Of griefs that wore upon her frame; 
But sympathy can not assuage, 
For wrongs that are a downright shame. 

While they thus communed together, 
A little girl of some ten years ; 
Sat list'ning wrapt in earnest thought, 
One sentence ringing in her ears. 

" If they would not sell him liquor," 
" If Jenks would never sell him drink ; " 
Acting on the moment's impulse 
Where went she reader do you think ? 

Why stole she out so noiselessly, 
Adown the hot and dusty road ; 
With happy face, with lighter heart, 
What think you lifted thence the load ? 

Simply the thought, the earnest thought, 
That she would for her father plead ; 
She'd tell him not to sell him drink 
And that was all that he would need. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 59 

O, artless child, O, innocence, 
Would that all hearts, like thine were pure, 
Then might this desert bud and bloom. 
And love, throughout all time endure. 

The laziest man in Milanville, 
Was Jenks, who kept the Wayside Inn ; 
Too proud to work, and yet such live, 
Rolling in wealth and steeped in sin. 

Here our little one bent her steps, 
Her mind with noble purpose filled ; 
Her inmost young Faith as great. 
As His who wind and waters stilled. 

Not long before a traveler cam.e, 
Dusty and worn, in need of rest ; 
And sought the bar-room's vile retreat, 
Of poor conveniences the best. 

Have something to drink, the landlord said, 
"I'll take a glass of water, please;" 
Jenks could not hide the sneering smile. 
That tin2:ed his face at words like these. 



6o GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

Down came the pitcher and the glass. 
Upon the counter's. poHshed face ; 
While he in cool indifference, turned 
His back on drink so out of place. 

The stranger poured his tumbler full 
Of nature's cool reviving draught ; 
And drank it with the air of one, 
Refreshed by every drop he quaffed. 

" Good water that," landlord, he said, 
" Is it? " Jenks looked contemptuously 
'' I call it good water, don't you ?'' 
Our traveler said most courteously. 

" I never drink water by itself," 

Jenks winked at a loafer there, "you see 

It's so long since that I hardly know, 

I forget how it tastes, don't you, Leslie.^ " 

The man to whom this was addressed, 
Was not so wholly lost to shame ; 
But that he blushed and looked confused. 
At the mere mention of his name. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 6 1 

Some chord within his soul was stirred, 
For he replied with softened voice ; 
" It might be best for some of us, 
If pure water had been our choice." 

" A true word, spoken well my friend," 
Said the stranger, turning to the man ; 
Whose swollen face and thread-bare clothes, 
Spoke plainer far than language can 
How terrible these vicious foes ? 

*' The pure water is my motto, 
Health, thrift and happiness attend; 
It does not take the children's bread, 
Nor yet the poor wives' garments spend." 

None of that motley crew but paid, 
Respect to all the stranger said ; 
Save Jenks who feared his influence. 
Lest his purse be more scanty fed. 

But Jenks could not restrain himself. 
Advancing to his side, he laid 
One brawny hand upon his arm, 
And in his hard, rude manner said, 



62 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

" See here, my friend, you'd best adjourn, ' 
To the Lecture-room or Town Hall ; 
This is no place for an address^ 
On Temperance the least of all." 

The stranger moved a pace or two, 
Jenks' words had failed in his defense; 
" There must be something wrong," he said, 
" When praise of water gives offense." 

"You can adjourn your lecture, sir," 
The landlord's face now fiery red, 
Gleamed hot w^ith passion's ugly glow, 
The stranger heeded not, but said, 

" O, well as you are president 
Of this meeting, I suppose, 
You can exercise your judgment, 
And dictate its time of close." 

" I never thought one could dislike, 
The gift our father gave ; 
The pure, limpid, sparkling gift. 
So free to all who crave," 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 63 

At this moment, a little childj 
Walked timidly up to the bar, 
Glancing neither to right or left. 
One strong purpose her guiding star. 

And lifting up her sweet young face, 
Said, in tones that touched each heart, 
Save that of the vile, debased man, 
Of foul wickedness a part. 

" Don't sell papa, any liquor 
Please, Mr, Jenks," and the tender face 
Shining out in its wealth of faith, 
Acquired an added grace. 

But nought touched the implacable heart 
Of that monster of sin and crime 
Who delights in orgies of human souls. 
As draughts from the waters of time. 

" Off home with you this instant," girl, 
Jenks advanced with uplifted hand; 
But threats could not induce that child 
To tremble at his loud command. 



64 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

" O, please don't sir," pleaded the child, 
Not taking her eyes from his face ; 
" If you'd please not to sell to him, 
Every time he passes this place. 

Mother says there would be no trouble, 
For he's kind, and good to us all, 
If 'twere not for the drinks you sell, 
Whenever he's tempted to call." 

" Off! " shouted Jenks now desperate, 
His hand menacing o'er her head ; 
The stranger caught her in his arms, 
While he in deep emotion said, 

" God bless the child ; no, precious one," 
He added as she paused in fright; 
" Don't fear him, God is with your cause, 
And he will aid you in his might." 

" Plead for your father, plead for home, 
And your petition shall be given ; 
He'll not deny the little ones, 
Whom the angels behold in Heaven." 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 65 

" If the father for whom she came, 
On this errand were present now ; 
If aught of manhood were left him, 
'Twould assert supremacy now." 

"Papa, O, papa," cried the child. 
Stretching out her little hands to him ; 
One moment, she was in his arms, 
While their eyes with happy tears were dim. 

Oppressive stillness filled the room, 
Jenks stood confused, his mind in doubt; 
Two or three loafers, lounging there, 
With moistened eyes went slowly out, 

Till the landlord, stranger, father and child, 
Were left alone in the drunkards' den ; 
Alone, where homes had been valueless 
In the eyes of wretched dissolute men. 

" Come Lizzie 'tis no place for us," 
Said Leslie, leading her to the door ; 
" Wait, papa, wait," she quick replied. 
*' For he did not promise me before." 



66 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

" Promise her, in Heaven's name, promise," 
Said the stranger; "promise" Leslie spoke, 
With solemn voice, " O promise her:" 
" My promised word I never broke." 

" If I promise her I keep it," 
Jenks said, and threatening looks he gave. 
" For God's sake promise," Leslie cried, 
" But promise and I will be safe." 

" Then be it so," the landlord said, 
" May I be cursed if you I sell, 
One drop of liquor this day forth. 
My word, you know I keep it well. 

'' God be thanked ! " the drunkard cried, 
As he led his daughter away ; 
" God be praised ! there is hope for me. 
O, joy that I should see this day." 

Hardly had Mrs. Leslie missed the child. 
When she saw her leading him in ; 
"Mother," she cried with joy-lit face, 
" Father will never drink again." 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. • 67 

*' Mr. Jenks has promised," hope revived, 
In her heart, at the joyful sound ; 
And her breath came thick and faster 
Till she almost sank to the ground. 

A pair of thin white hands were clasped, 
An ashen face looked up in prayer; 
Eyes too happy for tears to flow, 
Looked out in their thankfulness there. 

*' There is hope," were the only words 
The poor inebriate said ; 
Sincerity shone in every tone, 
And the drunkard bowed his head. 

*' Hope, O, Edward, you said the word. 
Precious hope through our darling child; 
Her innocence has conquered vice, 
And the will of a passion wild. 

Next year a stranger came that way, 
And he stopped at the same old inn ; 
Jenks was behind his well-filled bar, 
Retailing his portion in sin. 



68 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

He called for a tumbler of water, 
And drank it with hearty zest ; 
Jenks knew the stranger before him, 
But thought that silence was best 

The trav'ler made no reference 
To the scene of the year before, 
But observed through that day closely. 
Each person that entered the door. 

Not seeing Leslie among them, 

He asked when the landlord came near; 

" Where is the man and little girl 

I saw on my last visit here ? " 

" Gone to the Devil, for all I care !" 
Was the landlord's rude reply ; 
" Do you see that little cottage there. 
The shade of the woods close by ? " 

" Two poplars tall, stand guard in front, 
Leslie the man you know lives here ; 
If he continues to do as well 
He'll own i-t by another year," 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 69 

Thus a customer who retained 
A spark of manhood unimpaired, 
Spoke truthfully although each word 
In his own condemnation shared. 

"Ah I see, but did Leslie try. 
To buy a drink here since that day ? " 
" Twice, I was here, saw him refused, 
" Ah ! poor Leslie was saved that way." 

'' I have seen him plead for a drink. 
And drove with curses from the door ; 
Come again and again to meet 
The same reception as before. 

" Poor drunkards," and the stranger mused 
As with a deep sigh of relief ; 
He rode past the little cottage, 
And thought of that season of grief, 

When a bright young innocent girl, 
Plead with all her heart and soul ; 
That her dear father, might be spared, 
The damning curse of the bowl. 



70 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

Now all law and protection sides, 
With those who intice you to sin : 
While Satan is urging without, 
And the angel pleading within. 

And can this be a Christian land, 
Where in daylight such deeds are done, 
Crimes that blacken historic page, 
Dark spots on the disc of the sun ? 



LIFE! A LESSON. 

" Never-the-less afterwards, it worketh the peaceable fruits of Righteousness to 
ihem who are exorcised thereby." 

Only a little while, 
So fast the moments fly ; 
We think of them and sigh, 
Too bright to last. 

Even such is life, 
Youths' sunny morn aglow 
With loveliness almost divine ; 
Fair picture, unclouded by a care ; 
With music filled and song of birds — 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 



71 



But list! I see God's finger, 

And the scene is changed ; 

Winged messengers flit through 

The airy vault of Heaven. 

God's thunder breaks the perfect harmony; 

The angels weep at His command, 

Fast fall their tears, the thirsty ground 

Drinks up the sacred sacrament ; 

And lo ! the sun breaks through and shines 

Thus to our hearts 
The Master speaks ; we bend in awe 
Before the power no eye hath seen, 
Yet all must recosfnize. 
Knowing that He who rules the storm, 
And checks the elements at will, 
Controls alike our destiny. 

Tempest and storm 
Alike shall cease, the burdened soul 
Find sweet release, and through the thick 
Dark clouds of woe, the sun of God 
His face will show, in majesty divine. 

God reigns 
In every heart some misty tears ; 



72 GEMS OF THOUGHTo 

No life can be all sunshine. 

For unto each is given 

His share of doubts and fears. 

The uplands, 
And the lowlands, we must tread, 
The dizzy heights in glory, 
And the lowly vale in dust, 
For both of them are requisite 
To the immortal soul, 
To perfect us in trust. 

And 
When the journey of our life is done, 
And we recount its perils 
One by one ; and the wise Providence 
That sent the darkening cloud. 
The rain of sorrow, mist of tears ; 
But made the sun shine brighter 
To illumine our later years. 

And charity 
God given attribute, sprang up 
Within the heart and flourished. 
Nurtured and watered by our tears. 

Else we had known 



1 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 73 

No sympathy for others than ourselves, 
And love to God and man would find 
Within the breast a living tomb. 
Thanks to the eye that never sleeps, 
And to the ear that is not closed. 
Whose hand will never shortened be, 
To save poor worms like you and me. 



" If any man's work abide which he hath built, thereupon he shall receive a re- 
ward." — I Corinthians, iii : 14 

WITH ALL OF YOUR MIGHT. 



In all the transactions of every-day life, 
At home or abroad it is ever the same ; 
The duty of husband, the duty of wife, 
The duty of him who is toiling for fame, 
To first ascertain that the motive is right. 
Then do what you do, with all of your might. 

Do you labor for those depending on you.? 
Then labor in earnest, as God is your friend ; 
Do all of your duty in w^ork and in prayer, 



74 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

The crown of success will your labor attend. 
With love at the helm the way will seem bright, 
Then do what you do with all of your might. 

Do you toil w^ith brain or follow the plough 1 
At workshop or anvil, or where-e'er you please, 
The promise is made, by the sweat of thy brow ; 
Then think not that life is made up of ease. 
With a purpose in view, and conscience all right 
You should do what you do with all of your 
might. 

There is no scaling the ladder of fame, 
And gaining the top at one single bound ; 
But he who would win an immortal name, 
Toils up the acclivities round after round. 
Then keeping your object ever in sight, 
Continue to do, with all all of your might 



J 



TELL ME OF JERUSALEM. 

Lines respectful y inscribed to Rev. Philander Hathaway, 
of Carbondale, Pa. 

" Look upon Zion, the city of our Solemnities; thine eyes shall see Jerusalem, a 
quiet habitation." Isaiah 33, 20. 

Pilgrim on the western slope, 
Where the sunlight loves to cling; 
Faith has led thee, flowers of hope 
At thy feet are blossoming. 
You have trod this vale before, 
Met grim doubts a host of them ; 
Tell me shall I find the way ? 
Shall I reach Jerusalem ? 

You whose feet have .pressed Mount Zion, 

Who have met and vanquished sin ! 

Tell me if I reach the door, 

Is there room for me within ? 

If my strength should but endure, 

If I should the torrent stem, 

Will these eyes behold His glory .^^ 

Shall I see Jerusalem ? 



76 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

Brother you havC'cheered with counsel, 
The desponding on your way ; 
'Till the cross they bore in meekness, 
Changed to crowns of bright array ; 
But my soul is all unworthy, 
Heavenly crown or diadem ; 
All I ask is Faith to conquer, 
Grace to reach Jerusalem ! 

Oh ! that in my Father's mansion, 
Were prepared 2i place for me ! 
O, the glory of Mount Zion, 
Blessed are the eyes that see ! 
Blessed are the feet though weary, 
Who the tide of sin can stem ; 
And renouncing vain ambition, 
Hope to reach Jerusalem. 



I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me."— Psalms 

The song that I sing is a sorrowful one, 

For the heart of the singer is sad ; 

Yet I know there is rest when our labor is done, 

And a home where the weary are glad. 

What matter it then, if a few years of pain, 

Mark our lonely pilgrimage here, 

We know that our loss is but heavenly gain, 

A blessing revealed in a tear. 

Then blessed is the heart, tho' sad, yet can sing, 

Of the joys that await him in store 

Whose strong hope and faith will undauntedly 

cling 
To God's promises, asking no more. 
Then chain him to Pindar, and bind him to 

Earth, 
Or fetter his limbs as you will ; 
The immortal mind that has heavenly birth. 
Will assert its own freedom still. 



^8 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

Thus my mind wanders free, though by the 
flesh chained, 

And the monarch that sits on his throne, 

With his cringing minions around him ar- 
raigned, 

Might well envy the freedom I own ; 

The bird that but chirps in its morning of life, 

At eventide sings her sweet song ; 

And so may my notes, though with discord- 
ance rife, 

To a heavenly chorus belong. 



I KNOW THAT I SHALL BE HAPPY. 

" Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself; foi 
the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be 
ended." — Isaiah Ix; 20. 

I know that I shall be happy, 

When the work of the day is done ; 

And slowly from life's window 
I watch the setting sun ; 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 



79 



I shall not look out with fear, 
Nor backward with regret, 

For the dawning of that morning 
Whose sun shall never set. 



I know that I shall be happy, 

When my barque has gained the shore, 
Where the angry foaming billows 

Shall never threaten more; 
And looking over the stormy waste 

My barque has surely come, 
I will praise the Almighty power 

That led me safely home. 



I know that I shall be happy. 

When my weary feet have trod, 
All the long and painful journey 

Appointed by my God ; 
I shall not look back with longing. 

To the pleasures of my youth ; 
His Grace is all sufficient. 

And I know His word is truth. 



8o GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

I know that I shall be happy, 

Yes ! I feel the foretaste now 
I rejoice to see the traces 

Of care upon my brow; 
For so surely they tell me, 

Of battles fought and won , 
Of the Spirit's inward yearning, 

Of a mission almost done. 



I know that I shall be happy, 

And expectantly I wait, 
For the Pilot who will guide me 

Safe into the golden gate. 
I trust that He will not tarry 

And I listen for His feet; 
For When I shall feel His presence 

My journey will be complete. 



I know that I shall be happy, 

When with that ransomed throng, 

I see my Blessed Savior, 
And listen to the song, 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 



Of all the holy angels, 

And it may be that my voice 
Will join in that grand chorus 

When the Heavens shall rejoice. 



''Behold, I bring Him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in 
Him ■■ — John xix : 4. 

Me thinks I see the ribald crowd, 

Hear the coarse jest, the idle song, 
Eager to sacrifice their Lord, 

And caring not for right or wrong, 
I see the gentle Savior led 

By Pilate forth to meet His doom; 
A crown of thorns upon His head, 

His manner one of deepest gloom. 

Beaten and scourged with many stripes. 

Reviled, reviling not again ; 
He stands before that surging throng. 

Much fairer than the sons of men. 



82 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

No wonder Pilate's heart was moved, 
That deep compassion filled his soul ; 

No wonder that he plead for Him, 
With yearnings he could not control. 



But pre-ordained to suffer death, 

Resigned to do the Master's will ; 
He bore our sins upon the cross. 

And shall we crucify Him still ? 
Was ever love like unto this ? 

The sinless doth for sin atone ; 
Truly, the Friend of sinners is 

The truest friend that man has known. 

Shall we reject His proffered love — 

This Brother, Councellor and Friend, 
Who never failed in sorest need, 

On whom we always can depend ? 
Or shall we early seek His face. 

Lest He should cease to call us more, 
And while He still in mercy pleads, 

Go open wide to Him the door. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 83 

Unlearned and poor, he'll not despise 

The feeblest effort we may make ; 
He reads our motives, and can tell 

If we but do it for his sake. 
No fault was ever found in him, 

The same forever as to-day ; 
Unchanged 'till time shall cease to be, 

'Till Heaven and earth shall pass away. 



"And "The Books' were opened." — Revelations xx: 12. 

When our life on earth is ended, 

When we lay our burdens by ; 
When the casket has grown useless, 

And the soul has fled on high, 
We shall see the Blessed Savior, 

Seated on the Great White Throne 
W^e shall see the dead arisen ; 

We shall know as we are known. 

At the knowledge of his presence. 
Heaven and earth shall flee away ; 

And no sin can stand before him, 
Where the just shine as the day; 



84 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

Then the Books shall all be opened, 
And the Judge shall read aloud, 

All the record of the mighty, 
Of the haughty, and the proud. 



There the " Book of Sighs," revealing 

All our longing and our fear; 
All the strivings of the spirit. 

When temptations would appear, — 
Every silent aspiration, 

Every prayer borne on a sigh. 
We shall find them all recorded 

In that Ledger kept on high. 

When the " Book of Tears " is opened, 

'Twill not be to our disgrace, 
If o'er sin and sorrow, brother, 

They have often dimmed our face ; 
But if we through stern unfeeling, 

Caused another's heart to ache. 
If the happiness of others, 

Has been bartered for our sake. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 85 

Know that He who never slumbers, 

Has recorded in that Book 
Every mean advantage taken, 

Every proud and haughty look. 
And there is a day of Reckoning, 

When the Judge sums the amount, 
And will call us, though unwilling, 

For to balance our account. 



Then a " Book of Slander " also, 

Will be opened to our shame ; 
If by any word or action, 

W^e have winked away a name. 
And God will not hold us guiltless, 

Though the world esteem us fair; 
While the pit yawns for a victim, 

He shall fall who spreads a snare. 

But there is a Book, whose pages. 
Shall record our good deeds done ; 

Every good word, thought or action, 
Battle fought or victory won. 



86 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

No deed s^nall, but is recorded, 
And credit given for the same ; 

Even to the cup of water 
Given in a disciple's name. 

When the " Book of Life " is opened, 

O, wha" silence then will reign; 
Ages crowded into moments, 

Moments seem an age of pain, — 
While we listen, mute, expectant, 

Every breath a silent prayer, 
'Till our Judge in "loving kindness," 

Finds our poor names written there. 



"BEAUTIFUL THINGS," 

" How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good 
tidings, that publisheth peace ; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth 
Salvation, that saith unto Zion, Thy God Reigneth I ' — Isaiah lii: 7. 

What is beautiful to behold? 

That which pleases the ear and eye .^ 
Or that which wakes some nobler thought, 

Within our breast, we know not why } 



GE]MS OF THOUGHT. 87 

That which can please the sight alone, 

Will evanescent pass away ; 
While noble thoughts will beautify, 

And smile from out the plainest clay. 

The world may find in fashion's round, 
Some gaudy, rich and costly flower; 

Its beauty has no charms for me, 
'Twill fade within the passing hour. 

Poets may sing of lovely maids. 
That dwell afar in Eastern lands ; 

And lovers woo on bended knees, 
Their fair Madonna's jeweled hands. 

Give me the hand, though plain and brown. 

That patient labors day by day ; 
Not for itself, but others' good, 

And from \h^ poor turns not away. 

The hand that soothes the brow of care, 
Though toiling for its daily bread, 

Performs a mission nobler far, 
Than fairest palm by fashion led. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 



And beautiful the homely feet. 
That oft on Mercy's errands run ; 

Though weary of their rugged way, 
Faint not until the goal is won. 

There may be brows serenely fair, 
Worthy a sculptor's noblest art; 

Faces unclouded by a care, 

Whose beauty forms their crowning part. 

Give me the beauty of the soul, 
Though not in worldly jewels set; 

More beautiful by far to me, 
Than diadem or coronet. 



"Whatsoever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men. 
Col. lii: 23. 

So spake Apostle Paul of old, 

Who walked by Faith and not by Light; 
A Shepherd of the Heavenly fold, 

Who labored hard for truth and Right. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 89 

Not lukewarm in His Father's cause, 

Living for self and selfish ends ; 
But toiling for God's righteous laws, 

On whom the fate of man depends. 



How oft in carrying our cross. 

We quite forget the Almighty hand. 
Who counting earthly gain but loss, 

These very self denials planned. 
And we our work but half perform. 

Hoping some easier task to find ; 
Not knowing that the cloud and storm, 

Are workings of a Master mind. 



Much of our time has passed away. 

How small the task that we have done ; 
So soon will come the close of day. 

So fast indeed the moments run. 
Christian, is there no work to do ? 

In which your heart can enter in ? 
Are there not those yet dear to you, 

Still walking in the ways of sin. 



90 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

Help me to reach a willing hand, 

And all I do, do with my might; 
So short the time at my command. 

So fast day merges into night. 
And well I know, I cannot do, 

On^-kalf the work I would have done ; 
The span of life seems to my view, 

But as the time from sun to sun. 



THAT BEAUTIFUL LAND. 

" My times are in Thy hand." — Psalms xxxi: 15. 

There's a beautiful land 

Very fair to my view ; 
And I almost imagine I see 

On that far distant strand 
All the friends that I knew 

There watching and waiting for me. 

O, the way may seem long. 

And my path may be drear; 
But I know the end will be peace. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 9 1 

I shall join in their song, 
When He dries every tear, 
And giveth my spirit release. 

Of what use is renown. 

To poor mortals who live, 
'Mid the changing scenes of to-day ; 

When He giveth a crown, 
Which the world cannot give, 

And bless God cannot take away. 

I will patiently wait, 

All His will has decreed; 
For I know His judgment is just; 

In His hand is my fate, 
For He seeth my neea, 

He knoweth my frame is but dust. 

He will lead me I know, 

For I trust in his grace; 
Through evil report, and through good ; 

All along as I go 
His kind care I can trace 

In trials He near me hath stood 



92 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

Then what have I to fear, 

In the future untried ; 
He will mete out my strength as my day; 

When tli^ dark hour draws near 
He will stand by my side, 

To bear my freed spirit away. 



"THE BOW OF PROMISE." 

Hope on, brave heart, no fears should fleck 

Thy horizon to-day ; 
I know that clouds obscured thy morn, 

But they are past away. 
The spirit born amid deep gloom. 

And heavy clouds of sorrow ; 

Must look aloft to Hope's bright bow, 

And wait the coming morrow. 

What mean these clouds of doubt, that rise 

With angry, frowning mien ? 
God's hand o'erruleth all, faint heart, 

His wonders we have seen. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 93 

From out the depths of dark despair, 

We much of good may borrow ; 
And trusting in His grace to-day, 

Become His heirs to-morrow. 



Be not dismayed, poor heart, to find 

Life, a tempestuous ocean ; 
For Faith has cahned the tempest's rage, 

And stilled the waves' commotion. 
Lo ! when the storm its power has spent, 

The wailing winds their sorrow ; 
Nature displays her bow through tears, 

A promise of to-morrow. 

Though life is short, the way so dark, 

We know not w^hat s in store ; 
We labor zealously in hope, 

And can do nothing more. 
Lift up thy drooping soul, faint heart, 

Be not cast down of sorrow ; 
The sun may set in clouds today, 

'Twill rise again to-morrow, 



" Seek ye out of the Book of the Lord, and read. "— Isaiah xxxiv : i6. 

Books have been styled in every age, 
The truest, holiest friends of youth ; 

From out whose fair, unsullied page, 
We read heroic deeds of truth. 

In silence speak they to the eye, 

That window from which looks the soul ; 

Some chord is touched, we scarce know why, 
Yet we obey in mute control. 

Great men have lived and passed away. 

The scenes they knew, now know them not; 

But in their works they live to-day. 

And through them, shall not be forgot. 

Death is a ranger, bold and free. 

Each day some shining mark is riven ; 

The hand is dust, its work we see, 
Immortal as the stars of heaven. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 95 

One Book there is whose very name, 
Has power to hush the impious throng; 

Wild revelers are put to shame. 

And fearlessly denounce the wrong. 

That Book has stood the test of time, 
For it good men were torture wrung; 

The same in every land and clime, 
And nationality and tongue. 

These are the Books that men have writ, 

Inspired by the Holy One ; 
Without the lamp of zeal He lit. 

No nobler works were ever done. 

And there is one, our heritage. 

That all should read and understand ; 

So vast, indeed, each leafy page, 
The work of an Almighty hand. 



"And he denied Him, saying, I know Him not ! " — Luke xxii : 57. 

Who stood by thee in sorest need ? 

And ne'er refused for thee to plead, 

Nor proud though far as heaven above, 

Didst give thee more than mortal love. 

If sick, or sad, or sore depressed, 

Where did your troubled soul find rest ? 

And yet you would deny this friend, 

Rather than bear the jeers of men. 

Thou knowest them false, thou knowest me 

true. 
Hath sin dominion over you ? 
It seemeth so, or to this heart, 
Thou woulds't not act the liar's part. 
Peter denied his Lord you see. 
Then went and wept most bitterly; 
But floods of tears could not erase, 
That look upon the Savior's face. 



" And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it."— Genesis ii : 3. 

I thank Thee, Lord ! for this beautiful day, 

This holy Sabbath of thine ; 
I thank thee ! that over my sin-burdened way, 

The sun is permitted to shine. 
The insects and birds, a myriad throng, 

Are chanting from flower and tree ; 
All nature unites thy praise to prolong, 

But man is unmindful of thee ! 

I thank Thee, Lord ! that thy merciful hand, 

Hath led me with tenderest care ; 
And I in the midst of this beautiful land 

Am permitted Thy bounty to share. 
The earth distilleth her gentle dew. 

The rain and the sunlight are free ; 
Such blessings as these we constantly view, 

And still are unmindful of Thee ! 

I thank thee for life, contentment and health, 
For a thousand blessings untold ; 

For friendship, itself, far richer than wealth. 
And better, far better than gold. 



98 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

I wonder much that the works of thy hand, 
These eyes are permitted to see. 

That flowers bloom at my feet as I stand, 
And I so unmindful of thee ! 

O, crush from my heart, every feeling of pride 

Bow me low in the dust at thy feet ! 
Lay open to view the sins I would hide, 

And make thy correction complete ! 
Thy favors of mercy, Lord, I attest, 

Let me still their recipient be ; 
Yet one more I crave, with faith for the rest, 

O, make me more mindful of thee ! 



"CHECKMATED." 

"Lest thou shouldst ponder the path of life, her ways are movable, that thou 
canst not know them." — Proverbs v : 6. 

Checkmated ! yes, our very life. 
Is meted out with crosses, checked 
With hopes and fears, while pain 
Robs joy of half its promised bliss. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 99 

E'er yet the cheek is cold, from love's first kiss. 

While nature's God 
Stamps on the human face, the signet 
Seal of truth, and writes his image there. 
Deceit within the human heart, has birth 
And fosters many a snare. 

As oft we gaze 
Upon some beauteous bloom, some 
Gorgeous lily, clothed in verdant loveliness, 
Or fragrant holly, bursting from 
Perennial stem, only to note the fell 
Destroyer's power; that durst, amid, 
Such vernal loveliness, lift its destroying 
Head, and sap life's current with a fiendish joy, 
And through its w^hole existence, live 
But to destroy. 

But such is life. 
And in the heart is born. 
Envy and malice, jealousy and hate, 
Rank weeds of rapid growth, that spring 
Up quickly in an evil hour, 
And almost choke the nobler sentiment, 

For love is such a tender 



lOO GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

Plant, it will not thrive neglected and alone, 
It needs the sunshine of a generous soul 
To ripen and to beautify, else will it perish 
In the wilderness of shadows, oppressed by 

doubt 
And fear. 

O, I have seen the ivy 
To the the tall oak cling, and reaching out 
Its tendrils, twine around the topmost 
Bough ; and over ail its knarls and scars 
Her soft green mantle fling. 

And I have said, 
O, doubly 'blest the oak and ivy too. 
For 07ie must spread, and 07ie must cling. 
And both are fair to view. 

And I have seen it cling 
To earth, to rocks, and fallen trees. 
Blinded with dust and trodden down 
Yet adhering tenaciously. 
And scorching suns, would pour 
Their withering rays, and ruthless feet 
Would tread; no massive trunk to shield 
The tender vine, no sheltering arms o'erhead. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. lOI 

'Tis but a simile of life. 
Enacted o'er again ; with woman's heart 
The clinging vine, that man's hard nature 
Would enshrine ; and if, perchance 
Bound down to earth, to idols made 
Of sordid clay, or nature's hardened, cold 
And stern, wherein no sympathetic chord 
Responds in answering symphony. 

O, such a lot were hard, indeed. 
To find the diamond we had prized 
So dearly, but a meager flint; 
The gold but tinsel, little worth, 
The good unformed, the bad innate ; 
Farther apart, than pole to pole. 
Are love and uncongenial soul. 

Slow perishes love. 
When daily viewed, through doubts cold spec- 
trum. 
"Vile distrust;" lacking that perfect trust. 
That tender care, it dies ; 
And to the soul's perceptive eye, 
Die with it all things fair. 



DRIFTING, 

Reprobate Silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them. "— 
Jekfmiah vi: 30. 

Did you never note the drift-wood 

That dots the shifting scene, 
Pausing along the river's bank 

Like an idler in a dream, 
Until the swelling current 

Bears them swiftly down the stream ? 
These are the wrecks, the floating wrecks 

That dot the shores of time ; 
The foul, offensive, loathsome spots 

That fill our land with crime. 



Men say, the world grows better, 
Would it indeed were so! 

We lack faith to believe it, 
And face the facts we know; 

Crime dwells in such high places, 
Its sanctity to show. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 103 

We sometimes ask why these things are, 

And find no answer given ; 
Sure deeds so black can never gain 

A passport into Heaven. 

God shapes our destiny 'tis said, 

And I believe it's true; 
Tve seen the workings of His hand, 

And so no doubt have you, 
For wealth cannot forever cheat 

Stern Justice of her due. 
And men who climb the dizzy height 

Of honor and renown, 
And then betray their sacred trust. 

Are surely stepping down. 



THE ROAD TO HAPPINESS. 

" For the ways of man, are before the eyes of the Lord, and be pondreth all his 
goings.'' — Proverbs, v: 21. 

TRAVELER I 

How far is it to happiness, pray? 
I have traveled the road day after day, 
The guide boards to pleasure are seen all 
the way, 

And yet I have never found it. 
It cannot be I have gone too fast, 
I have sought nothing else from first to last. 
And yet the right w^ay I must have passed 

For I never yet have found it. 



GUIDE : 

You took the way oi folly and sin, 
'Tis the way most all the world walks in ; 
And the goal, my friend, you can never win, 
For the day is fast declining. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 105 

And if I should now direct you aright, 

You could not reach there, friend, for the 

night 
Advancing fast would obscure the light, 
And leave you alone repining. 

TRAVELER I 

But can I not cut across the style. 
And shorten the road by many a mile ? 
If I could but reach there after awhile, 

My efforts I would redouble. 
I wish that my life had been well spent, 
To wander so far was not my intent. 
For the life God Qrave me He never meant 

Was to end in toil and trouble. 

GUIDE : 

You have mdeed, made a sad mistake, 
And thousands more the same will make, 
Who follow like you in pleasure's wake 

Regardless how 'twill cease ; 
'Till warned at last by the close of day. 
That the lingering moments will not stay, 
They seek hard to find some other way 

To happiness and peace. 



NOT FOR ME. 

"For all our davs are passed away in thy wrath; We spend our years as a tale 
that is told."" — Psalm xc : ;x : 

Not for me the joys that spring 

From a heart untouched by care ; 
Merry as the birds at wing, 

BHthesome as the summer air. 
Other hearts may feel thy glow, 

Other bosoms thrill with joy; 
But for me too well I know 

There's no bliss without alloy. 

Not for me the home of mirth, 

Gaiety and festive scene ; 
Pleasure there may have her birth, 

Pain and sorrow intervene. 
Revel in inglorious ease, 

The best gifts of fortune waste; 
Mirth will lose her power to please, 

Pall and sicken to the taste. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 



107 



Not for me delusive hope, 

Guilding o'er each passing dream ; 
The mind requires a wider scope 

Than fancy's wild uncertain gleam. 
She builds for me no gorgeous fane, 

For me no airy castles high ; 
Her smiles of joy are wreathed with pain, 

Hqv promised p\e2isures soonest die. 



Not for me the wreath of fame 

111 befits a careworn brow; 
Let aspirants for a name 

Claim the treasure you endow. 
Toiling worth must bear reviling. 

Genius rarely ever shines. 
Cheek now wins, and fortune smiling, 

Poet Laureate entwines. 



Not for me \'^ friendship holy. 
Such as I would give or claim; 

Selfish passions ruling wholly, 
Now have made it but a name. 



I05 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

Love ! The soul's untarnished gift, 
I would sing thy praise aloud ; 

Thou art like a sunny rift 
In a passing April cloud. 



Not for me are fortune's favors, 

Care I if she smile or frown ; 
Whether she award my labors, 

Or deny me fair renown ? 
When our pilgrimage is over, 

And the soul immortal flown, 
I'd prefer rude nature's cover 

To the sculptured marble stone. 

Not for me the joyous song 

Of the warblers in their glee. 
Caged and pining Oh, so long! 

Will the spirit e'er be free ? 
Shall I ever roam at will 

On the light and airy wing.? 
" Not for me ! " Fate whispers still, 

" Learn contentedly to sing." 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. I09 



Not for me does nature shed 

All her loveliness around ; 
I see faces of the dead, 

And solemn burial ground. 
Spring for me returns no more, 

For me no flowerets bloom ; 
This for me, when life is o'er, 

The silence of the tomb. 



" By whom also we have access hy faith, into this grace wherein we stand, and re- 
joice in hope of the gLry of God '—Romans, v : 2. 

LINES INSCRIBED TO REV. OLIVER CRANE, D. D. 

Thanks! kindly friend, thy wish requires 

From me to thee a like return ; 
Thy beaming face my soul inspires, 

While reverent thoughts within me burn. 
I see, or seem to see thee kneel 

Beside the couch of stricken grief; 
Hearts, that like thine, for others feel, 

In consolation find relief. 



no GEMS OF THOUGHT. 



'Tis thine to heal the silver chord, 

When once the golden bowl is broken ; 
The voice of Grace can strens^th afford 

When other words would fail if spoken. 
'Tis true the poet tunes her lyre, 

And sings the measure of her days ; 
Perchance her strains may hope inspire, 

While some will blame and others praise. 



But when the minister of grace 

Remembers with the voice of prayer. 
Each member of the human race. 

And I am not forgotten there ; 
Straightway it stirs my very soul. 

The chords of feeling thrill anew, 
The inward voice that should control 

Speaks forth undaunted, firm and true. 

The prayer of faith brings its reward. 

With Faith our watchword, landmark, place; 

Each weak petition to the Lord, 
Finds mercy at the throne of grace. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. Ill 



Vi^ faith thy hope, thy watchword here, 

And when eternity is riven, 
Th.^ faith that stayed the mourner's tear 

Shall ope the pearly gates of heaven. 



AUTUMN. 

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."-^ 
Psalm xc : 12. 

O, the glorious splendor 

Of these autumn days, 
Vain are all my efforts 

Half to speak thy praise ; 
But thy regal beauty 

Hath a touch of pain. 
For thy varnished glories 

May not come again. 

Dear departed summer 

Mourn we at thy bier. 
While like tears are falling 

Yellow leaves and sear. 



112 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

Many joys we've tasted 
During thy brief reign, 
, Sweet associations 

Cluster round thy name. 

Hearts and hands united, 

Vows of love have spoken, 
Forming links I trust that 

Never shall be broken. 
But the years will change us, 

Human hopes are vain; 
And of all we cherish 

Nothing shall remain. 



But the God who formed us 

Fashioned us from clay, 
That we might acknowledge 

All His love to-day. 
Then blessed be our God, 

Hallowed be His name : 
Who 'mid all life's changes 

Ever is the same. 



AWAKENING. 

" I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the goldetl 
wedge cf Ophir." — Isaiah xiii : 12. 

All men have idols 
At whose shrine they bow, 
And daily offer up those nobler impulses 
Of soul, that should belong to God alone. ^ 

They are not molten by the hand, 
Or worshiped by a heathen few ; 
But high and low, and rich and poor, 
Sinner and saint, all hold within 
Themselves some secret sin, 
And glory in its triumph o'er the soul. 

I had my idol, 
A man in God's own image formed, 
A man above all other men, 
Who, from the height he stood. 
Could never stoop to do an act 
Unworthy of his calling. 

In him I saw 
^//that was good and noble among men; 



114 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

True piety, that daily sought 
The throne of grace, not for himself alone, 
But that the world, through prayers 
Of Faith might yet be saved. 

I had 
The bitter lesson yet to learn, 
That not through y^^V/^ alone, 
But by our works, the Lord omnipotent 
Shall judge our erring souls ! 

For though 
Rahab, by faith was saved 
From everlasting punishment, 
In the world to come, yet entered not 
Into the rest prepared for those 
Who work the will of God. 

Time, and the study 
Of God's word have taught me 
These all important truths, 

Yet long I worshiped Him, 
Whom I believed God's perfect 
Handiwork in man. 

I did not dream 
That one on whom nature had bestowed 



OEMS OF THOUGHT. II5 

Her every gift with lavish hand, 

Possessing a soul keenly alive 

To every sense of wrong ; 

Seeing the faults of others, 

And the rocks on which their hopes 

Were wrecked, could yet be warped 

By passions base, and overcome of sin. 

Yet this I learned 
For wisdom grows with age, and youth 
Is but the seed-time of maturer years. 

Behold my idol now, 
But ah ! How changed ! 

The bay I twined 
Upon his forehead, withered dead, 
The bright gold of his nature 
Turned to dross. Sad awakening 
From a dream so sweet 

To stern reality. 
Is Paganistic creed more false than ours ? 
They worship gods of wood and stone. 
And we, the mammon of unrighteousness. 
Lord, cleanse us from this gathering dross, 
Make us to. see our own, as well 



Il6 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

As other's faults, now I behold 
The mote that's in a brother's eye. 

Lord ! help me cast 
The beam from out my own ! 



" Let us not be weary in well doing ; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint 

not."— GALATIANSvi: 9. 

The world is full of lessons taught, 

If we would but believe them ; 
The air is full of blessings fraught. 

If we would but receive them. 
And many a treasure rich and rare 

Through nature's wise provision. 
We'd gather if we had a care, 

From youth's fair fields Elysian. 



The birds that sang, the flowers that grew, 

Conveyed their silent lesson ; 
The violets tipped with pearly dew 

Nodded in adoration. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 117 

Each wrote upon the plastic mind, 

What time could not erase, 
A moral of a wondrous kind, 

That nothing could efface. 

Those scenes that happened years ago 

Are present with me now, 
And once when fever laid me low 

And burned my pallid brow, 
I felt the anxious breath of those 

Who hovered round my bed. 
And knew the door stood ajar 

Between me and the dead. 



The clock upon the shelf was all 

That natural seemed to be ; 
And though I could not speak, it strove 

To hold converse with me. 
It spoke in such a solemn way 

When all was still at night, 
And seemed to say as plain as day. 

Do right, do right, do right. 



Il8 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

And though long years have passed since then, 

I never can forget 
Those monetary voices heard 

In childhood linger yet. 
And no temptation can allure, 

With scenes however bright, 
For memory in faithfulness 

Repeats the words, do right. 



"HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED SLEEP." 

On the death of my beloved husband, who departed this life at Arkadelphia, Ark- 
ansas, September 26th, 18S2. 

He was our life, our joy, our pride, 
For him we would have gladly died ; 
Wise councellor, true husband, friend. 
We grieve over thy untimely end. 
Forgetting in our anguish deep, 
" God Giveth His Beloved Sleep." 

Forgetting that no care or pain 

Can waste that form, or wrack that brain ; 

Delusive hope no more may charm, 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. IK 



Nor disappointment give alarm ; 
While we in tears must sow and reap, 
" He Giveth His Beloved Sleep." 

How bright our home have used to been, 
E'er death's dark angel entered in ; 
Our band was strong, our union sweet, 
For yet our circle was complete ; 
But cease, O, heart, thy anguish deep, 
" He Giveth His Beloved Sleep." 

He giveth sleep and rest from pain. 
For weary heart and throbbing brain ; 
His love doth beautify the tomb, 
While robbing death of half its gloom. 
His promise was, to thpse who weep, 
'' He Giveth His Beloved Sleep." 

We miss the form, we miss the smile, 
We miss a voice that cheered the while ; 
Grim death is but an open door, 
That leads to loved ones gone before ; 
He rests from pain, for whom we weep, 
In Jesus doth our darling sleep. 



I20 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 



O; turn thine eyes to " Zion's hill," 
There 'mid the sunlight, calm and still. 
All undisturbed by mortal woes. 
Our loved one sleeps in sweet repose; 
While we, repining, idly weep, 
" He Giveth His Beloved Sleep." 



d 



LITTLE THINGS. 

" There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise." 
-Proverbs xxx : 24. 

The little things, the little things 

That make the sun of life. 
So unimportant, yet their wings 

With messas^es are rife. 
They occupy our daily care, 

They fill life's little span. 
And out of them is wove with prayer 

The destiny of man. 

A sunbeam shot athwart the sky, 
By angry storm clouds riven, 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 12 1 

Pointing a wanderer's thought on high 
To Him who dwells in heaven. 

Into a sad, dejected heart 
The precious sunlight fell ; 

It warmed and quickened every part, 
And saved a soul as well. 

A little unassuming flower 

In some neglected spot. 
Has cheered the weary, passing hour, 

When gaudier blooms were not. 
So God, in accidental way 

His love to us reveals. 
And even in the darkest day 

Some ray of sunlight steals. 

Strange that upon so small a space. 

Events important turn ; 
And even all the human race 

This one great lesson learn. 
That no good deed will ever die, 

Howe'er so small it be, 
'Tis drawing interest on high, 

Through all eternity. 



122 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

A glowing thought, let loose one day, 

Like a bird from out its prison, 
That soared through the air away, 

An immortal spark uprisen. 
Not born to die, though flesh may fail, 

And dust to dust be given ; 
A chastened mind will rend the vail, 

Dividing earth from heaven. 



LIFE'S LESSONS. 

''I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go." — PsALM 
32:8. 

Take good care of the minutes, 

That fly away so fast ; 
Each follows on the other, 

And soon will come the last. 
Did you ever note the lessons, 

That unconsciously they teach ? 
To improve the golden present, 

For the Pas^ we cannot reach. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 12^ 

I 

Listen to these silent teachers, 

Though they never speak a word, 
In the silence of your own heart 

Their voice is often heard. 
If you obey their teachings 

And reverence them still, 
Not all the powers of darkness 

Could mould you to their will. 

And what a host of lessons, 

If we would only look, 
Dame nature now is teaching 

From out her leafy book. 
O, the earth is full of beauty ! 

And the world is very fair ; 
' Tis the work of our Creator 

And His love is every-where. 

And there is another lesson, 

We unconsciously receive. 
From the force of the example, 

Of the friends whom we believe; 



124 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

And they have a purer reflex, . 

Or they cast a deeper shade 
Over what was pure and lovely 

In the imao^e God has made. 

And experience is another 

Of our teachers old and gray ; 
Who of all of our instructors, 

Has the very least to say. 
And the lessons that she teaches, 

Are not lost upon us here, 
Though for much of her instruction 

We are apt to pay too dear. 

How many ways our Father takes, 

To reach the human heart ; 
Until unconscious of His power 

He reigns in every part. 
'' Life's lessons," will but just be learned 

At setting of the sun, 
And what a privilege 'twill be. 

To hear him say, well done ! 



LINES 

WRITTEN UPON A SERMON DELIVERED IN ^VAYMART, PA., 
BY REV. F. GENDALL, FROM THE TEXT, 

"Leaving us an example, that we should follow His steps." ist. Petbr 2:21. 

In His life of patient trust, 
Condescending to the dust; 
In his love for fallen man 
Mark the wisdom of his plan, 
Taking on himself, our sins, 
Even in the grave, he wins. 
O, what grace we find in thee ! 
Noblest gift humanity. 

•None to whom the World gave birth 
E'er were perfect on this earth ; 
Thy brightest page, historic fame, 
Is sullied by a tinge of shame; 
But thou incarnate Son of God, 
Who alone, the Wine Press trod ; 
Unto thee it had been given 
To be pure as the stars in Heaven. 



126 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

Seek no earthly model then, 
Though he be " king among men ;" 
Fair the outward, yet within, 
Still there lurks the monster. Sin. 
And we never shall be free. 
From this guilt and misery. 
Until we have gained the shore 
Where temptation lurks no more. 

What then shall my duty be ? 
' Till my Lord shall summon me ? 
Put away all earthly pride, 
Let love all my actions guide ; 
To the fallen, reach a hand, 
Point them to the Better land ; 
So shall Faith and Hope and Love 
Win for thee a home above. 



Whatsoever a man Soweth — That shall he also reap.'' — Gal. 6:7: 

^o^N flowers, my friends ! sow flowers 
Thorns spring without your care ; 

Sow blessings like the summer showers, 
That purify the air. 

How many poisonous weeds have grown, 

From envies bitter root ? 
Where Eden's flowers had they been sown, 

Would yielded golden fruit. 

How many rankling thorns have sprung, 

Around the paths of youth ? 
Instead of Wisdom's flowers among 

Fair friendship love and truth. 

The lowest born, the humblest cot 
May hide a heaven-born germ ; 

Then cherish it. Oh, spurn it not, 
Their's may be your's in turn. 



128 GEMS OF THOUGHT, 

The very dust beneath your feet, 

Conceals the flowery seed ; 
Oh ! crush it not, lest in its stead. 

Should come the noxious weed. 

Sow flowers ! my friends, sow flowers ; 

Thorns spring without your care ; 
Sow blessings, like the summer showers, 

That purify the air. 

How many wild, distracting tears, 

And many vain regret, 
Have clouded o'er the passing years, 

' Till life in darkness set ? 

The truest heart by friendship stirred, 
And loving accents spoken, 

Have sunk beneath the bitter word 
Forever crushed and broken. 

The wasted years in solitude 

From friendships tie apart. 
Can never wake to gratitude 

A lonely broken heart. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 1 29 

Is there no Balm for mortal woe ? 

No healing Balsam found ? 
But only at dark Marah's flow, 

The bitter spring abound ? 

If there's reward for Christlike souls, 
If there are crowns in Heaven ? 

To him who greatest wrong controls 
That starry crown be given. 

Sow flowers, then, friends, sow flowers ; 

Thorns spring without your care ; 
Sow blessings like the summer showers, 

That purify the air ! 



"ALL IS WELL!" 

When our mother Earth shall claim. 
This poor weary, worn out frame 
Shall the soul live on the same ? 
Who can tell ? 



130 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

If to Jesus we have given, 
Many a thought on this side Heaven, 
When the vail of Life is riven, 
All is well! 



If our hearts have always been 
Striving 'gainst the monster sin, 
Though we did not always win, 

Who can tell ? 
If upon that ledger high, 
Kept above the starry sky, 
Stand recorded, you and I, 

All is well ! 



Not one tear was shed in vain. 
Wrung in anguish or in pain 
Will it not be all made plain ? 

Who can tell ? 
When we stand before the king, 
When we all our record bring 
Shall we not have cause to sing. 

All is well ? 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 13I 

Now we mourn an earnest friend, 
In whom Christian grace's blend, 
Though thy warfares at an end 

Who can tell ? 
But thy many virtues rare. 
Earnest deeds and life of prayer, 
Warn us also to prepare 

While tis well ! 

Not as through a glass shall we, 
All his loving kindness see, 
Death unravels mystery, 

Who can tell ? 
Grievous is our cross to-day, 
Yet we trust like him to say, 
When the mists have rolled away, 

All is well ! 



I KNOW! 

" My Times are in Thy hand." — Psalm 31:15. 

I know not when the hour will come, 

That shall free my spirit from care ; 
I know not how, or in what way, 

He will come in answer to prayer 
But this I know I am ready to go, 

When ever the time or the place ; 
I know that his Love is sufficient for me, 

If I but rely on his Grace. 

I know not the path I shall tread, 

Or the thousand devious ways ; 
I know not the trials that wait. 

To attend me all of my days 
But I know I must patiently bear 

All His righteous will has in store; 
He knoweth what trials I need. 

And He will require no more. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. T33 

I know not if joy or if pain, 

My larger portion shall be ? 
I know not my own strength to bear, 

What fate has allotted to me. 
But I know He will temper the winds, 

And the adverse tides at tlis will; 
And e'er I give way to despair 

He will bid the wild waves, be still ! 

I know not how soon I shall see, 

My latest sun sink in the west *. 
I know not how many the leagues, 

Between me and the city of Rest. 
But I know, through the days that remain, 

E'er I shall my journey complete ; 
I'll watch the decline of the sun, 

And long for the sound of His feet ! 



*' This is not your Rest." — Micah 2:10. 

*' There Remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God." — Hebrews 4:9. 

" Arise ye and depart ! " 

Why should you longer stay ? 
The Master bids us hence 

From all these scenes away. 
And we shall all be changed, 

In the twinkling of an eye ; 
The mortal to immortal, 

The good to realms on high. 

For this is not our rest, 

Though home may pleasant be ; 
We cannot tarry here, 

With friends that now we see 
The hand of change will mar. 

The brightest, fairest scene, 
And twixt our fondest hopes 

A stern fate intervene. 

Then let our thoughts arise, 

From earth, and earthly things. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 135 

Why is it that the heart, 

To such frail fabric clings ? 
Beyond the things of time, 

Beyond these changing skies ; 
There may we look for rest, 

With Faith that never dies. 

The World with all its joys, 

Will please us but in part ; 
In after years 'twill fail, 

To satisfy the heart. 
Our life is like the sea, 

That cannot be at rest. 
Until our barque is moored 

In the Harbor of the Blest ! 



OVER THE WATERS. 

" He being dead yet speaketh."— Hebrews 11:4. 

There comes the voice of millions, 
Bowed o'er their fallen chief, a nation 
Weeps, awe stricken, for her chosen son ; 
While kindred nations join her grief. 
Wherever Love for truth and right. 
Hath dwelling place in the breast of men, 
Will live the deeds of the noble Czar 
While true men mourn for their fellow-man. 

And well may our nation 
Sympathize with Russia, in this deep. 
Dark hour of gloom, for was it not 
The fell assassins ruthless hand. 
Bore our Beloved Lincoln to his tomb ? 
Is there a station in life exempt ? 
Or a noble heart that has no foes ? 
Did not the benefactor of our race. 
Die a sacrifice to appease his foes ? 






^ 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 137 

See the beloved daughter. 
Mourn over the spot, where her Father fell ; 
Kneeling down in the snow and sleet, 
She offers the prayer that he loved so well. 
Methinks an assassins heart. 
Might melt at a scene of grief like this ; 
For the surging crowd in silence weep. 
And the heart of a mighty nation throbs. 

In the old Cathedral 
Where so oft his lips had uttered 
The responses, in days gone by, — 
They bear the shattered wreck, 
And lay in state, amid the gorgeous 
Wealth of gold and diamonds — 
All that remains of him, who once 
Was monarch, over the proud realm 
That now in silence weeps. 

The last, sad rites, are said, 
And mourning friends in silence 
Stoop, to kiss with reverence 



138 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

The hand now cold in death, 
That signed the liberation of more 
Than forty million serfs. 

Ah! many a deed 
Worthy a place upon historic page, 
That noble hand had done; 
And still the generous heart, and ever 
Active brain, was planning deeds 
Of benevolence and love, to the lowly 
Subjects of his realm. 

Deeds of reform and mercy, 
Would have been added to the list 
Already grown so large, for nearest 
To his noble heart, he bore 
His country's good. 

But the assassin 
Marked him for his prey, 
And Alexander's w^ork was done ; 
But while the memory of the wicked 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. I39 

Scarce survives his infamous career, 
The noble Czar, though dead 
Yet Hveth, in his country's fame 
Most dear. 

And generations 
Yet unborn, shall tell their sons 
With glowing pride ; — 
How Alexander II lived, 
And blessing others 
How he died. 



" The pearl of great price."' — Matthew xii : 46. 

"And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God and 
Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." — John xvii : 3. 

What seek you ? my child, 

The hours are fleeting, 
Old time the same lesson 

Is ever repeating. 
Though pleasures allure 

And seek to entice, 
I would have you be sure 

Of the " Pearl of Great Price." 



140 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

But where shall I find it ? 

Instruct me to be, 
More prayerful and watchful 

Of all that I see. 
I fear that the glitter 

Of pleasure and vice, 
Will shut from my vision 

The " Pearl of Great Price." 



This Pearl is in the reach 

Of all who may seek ; 
Pride shuts out the vision 

Enjoyed by the meek. 
Pride is the obstruction 

Of cunning device. 
Which we must o'ercome 

For the "Pearl of Great Price." 



To the glitter of wealth 
Must I close my eyes ? 

And never behold 

What others would prize.? 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 141 

And if I should find it 

What use would it be ? 
For a stronger than I 

Might wrest it from me ? 

You need not fear, my child, 
If once you should gain, 
This treasure on earth, 
It will yours remain ; 

'Tis the gift of " our Father." 

And by his command. 
No one shall be able 

To pluck from thy hand. 



LINES TO MY HUSBAND. 

" Beloved I wish above all things, that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even 
as thy soul prospereth." — III John ii: 

Deal gently time with him I pray. 
For you have all my life to-day. 
Remove from him each weight of care, 
The burdened sigh, the anxious prayer, 



142 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

I would not ask of thee for wealth, 
But for that perfect boon of health, 
To cheer and bless thy lot for thee, 
For thou art all the world to rne. 

My husband ! 

And I would smooth thy path through life, 
My highest aim a faithful wife; 
Fresh wisdom day by day impart. 
That I may bless and cheer th)^ heart ; 
Our future lot we may not know, 
But hand in hand through life we'll go ; 
What e'er of joy or gloom may be 
Thy portion, I will share with thee 

My husband ! 

And should our years on earth be few, 
We will at least be fond and true ; 
No cloud of dark distrust or fear 
Shall mar our future path-way, dear, 
But we will catch each glint of sun 
And count our joys o'er one by one; 
And should there come a darkened day, 
We'll trust that it will pass away 

My husband, 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 



143 



The school of Hfe has taught us well, 
A lesson, tongue nor pen can tell ; 
And how we prize each kindly word, 
Each thought by fond affection stirred ; 
How sweet the cup of life must be 
That holds such love for you and me ? 
May Heaven's choicest blessings, shed 
Their brightest halo round thy head ; 
Each day we'll bless the hour we wed, 

My husband ! 



HEART MURMURINGS STILLED. 



" Like as a Father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. 
For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust."— Psalms ciii; 
t3i 14- 

" Fall gently, rain ! Do not disturb 

My loved one's lost repose ; 
Bravely he fought and bled, but now 

No want or pain he knows ; 
Tall tenderly like gracious tears, 

On his defenceless head; 
Reverently, for all I loved. 

Lies at your mercy dead. 



144 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

A relic of that fearful war, 

All suffering over now ; 
Cold is the heart, and still the pulse, 

And calm that placid brow. 
Forever closed the eyes I loved, 

No more their glance can thrill, 
But yet I feel, by day, by night, 

Those eyes are on me still. 



You cannot ease the pain I know, 

My tears bring no relief; 
And every searching drop that falls 

Adds new weight to my grief. 
I cannot sleep ; how can I bear 

To lay me down to rest, 
Knowing these heavy rain-drops beat, 

The turf above thy breast .^^ 



How can I bear to think of life, 

Its pleasure and its pain, 
Since you who shared each joy with me 

I shall not see again ? 



I 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 1 45 

Compelled to know, these autumn rains 

Will drench thy lowly bed; 
And winters snow and ice will drift 

O'er thy unconscious head ? 

Be still ! O, heart ! It is the will 

Of one divinely just; 
Quicken my faith and give me grace. 

That I may hope and trust. 
Dark is the dav, and dark the hour, 

The Star of Peace shines dim ; 
But faith, that blessed Star of Hope, 

Will lead me up to him. 



THE SACRIFICE. 

" For the transgressions of my people was he smitten.'" — Isaiah Ixiii 

Methinks I see the Son of God, 
Reviled, betrayed, by man denied, 

Bending beneath our weight of sin 
Behold the Savior crucified. 



146 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

Not for one act that he has done 
Did Jesus groan upon the tree; 

That precious blood, my christian friend. 
Was shed for you, was shed for me. 

Behold Him on Mount Olivet, 

Pray, " Lord remove this cup from me," 
" Nevertheless not as I will," 
« He cries in mortal agony. 

*Twas then that for a paltry sum, 
Judas betrayed our Lord to death; 

Denied by friend, by thieves reviled 
Yet he forgave with dying breath. 

And nailed and bleeding on the cross, 
He prayed for them. He prayed for you ; 

The prayer that for a world atoned, 

" Forgive ; they know not what they do." 

Stricken for our transgressions dumb, 
O that the world might speak for thee, 

The wicked world, the sinful world. 

Thy blood hath bought Redemption free. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 147 

O what a debt of gratitude ; 

What poor, what worthless worms are we ? 
Here take my heart, my Hfe, my all, — 

Accept, though poor the offering be. 



'' I WANT TO BE UP THERE." 



•' I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help."— Psalm 

121 I. 

The subject of this poem Miss Lorinda Belknap was one of 
those hopeful, happy christians, whose dying words leave a 
comforting hallowed influence.— V. M. 

I want to be up ^kere 

Amid that shining band, 
One of that blood-washed throng 

Who stand at God's right hand. 
I want to lay aside 

This wasted worn-out frame, 
I'll listen, 'till I hear 

My Savior call my name. 



148 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

My eyes have caught a glimpse 

Of those bright realms of day, 
Why should I linger here ? 

I long to be away ! 
And though you may be sad, 

Shed not your tears for me, 
My soul has loosed its bonds 

I am forever free. 



Then mother, do not weep, 

As those who grieve in vain. 
You would not wish me back 

To suffer death again ; 
And when the helmsman comes 

To row you o'er the tide. 
Father and I will wait 

Upon the other side. 

My sisters, you were dear. 

Oh ! very dear to me, 
And I would fain have borne 

An equal share with thee ; 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 149 

But all my work is done, 

How well, the Lord knows best, 

I drop the tangled threads 
He will complete the rest. 

And brother, dearest tie, 

That bound my spirit here, 
I would to aided you, 

Have lingered longer near ; 
I would have shared your lot, 

If it had been God's will, 
But he will heal your heart, 

And bid your grief be still ! 

Dear friends, then dry your tears. 

You lay beneath the sod, 
Only the mortal part, 

My spirit is with God. 
Direct your prayers to him. 

Who hath the power to save, 
And know this life, is but 

A journey to the grave. 



A FEW MONTHS HENCE. 

"Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a 
little, before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the 
shadow of death.'' — Job 10:20.21. 

A few months hence, and we shall not be here ; 
We've time to weep, and time to dry the tear ; 
A moment to enjoy the present, all our own, — 
The future dark, untried, the way unknown. 
So far we've ventured on the billows crest, 
By many a racking wind and storm wave pressed 
Only to find our cherished hopes unblest, 
And struggle hard to say, " God's will is btst. ' 

Only a few months hence, — age, nearer than 
we think 

Our feet may stand upon the awful brink, 
Our eyes be closed in death, our voices stilled. 
With yet our work undone, our mission unful- 
filled. 
Teach me, Oh, Lord ; the way my feet should 

tread, 
And let my hungry soul with righteousness be 
fed. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 151 

Oh, let the lamp of peace its halo 'round me 

shed, 
Once e'er I mingle with the silent dead. 

A few months hence ! The great world pauses 

not. 
For death at palace door or humble cot ; 
The great, the good, the poor of modest w^orth, 
Decay and mingle in one common earth. 
And who of all the world, shall mourn for 

genius' son ? 
Who perished e'er his course was scarce begun ? 
Or who the poets early fate deplore, 
Whose harp of song was silenced evermore ? 

A few months hence, and time our names shall 

blot 
From recollection's scroll, till quite forget ; 
For grief of faithful friends is short at best, 
And few the poet has that bear the test. 
Nature will keep her dewy drops in store, 
The Orchard boughs in very grief bend lower, 
And tear-drops fall as sweet, as fell before. 
When I, shall walk these pleasant ways no 

more. 



"LIFE'S COMPARISONS." 

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the 
' Tree of Life," and may enter in through the gates into the city Revelation xxii : 14. 

I know a tree, a towering tree, 
Whose branches wave high over me; 
In vain it strives to reach the sky, 
Yet doth not shade the passer by. 
'Tis rooted in a cleft of rock, 
A goodly seed of goodly stock ; 
But not a shrub or plant grows near, 
To break the loneliness so drear. 



What if I twine my tendrils round, 
And shade him from the very ground r 
It would be quite a mark for me. 
To gaze from such a lofty tree. 
Cease prattling, foolish little vine, 
A holier mission yet is thine ; 
You'd die upon those rocks you see, 
Pray let the proud old giant be. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 



153 



I know a tree, a sturdy tree, 
Whose branches spread most lustily; 
It has no towering hopes on high, 
But thorns to wound the passer by. 
It thrives in every clime and land, 
Defies the fell destroyers hand; 
Spreading in wild luxuriance 
It bears the fruits of ignorance. 



What if I climb its rugged side ? 
Who knows, — it may be beautified ? 
These very thorns that you dread so, 
May shield me from a wiley foe ; 
Still reason with entreating voice. 
Besought me to delay my choice ; 
'Twas thus I learned to cling to earth, 
And mark the spot that gave me birth. 



There is a tree of endless bloom, 
Whose glory shall out4ive the tomb ; 
Whose boughs are green from age to age. 
Whose record is the sacred page. 



154 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

Oh, never failing source of light, 
Whose rays can pierce the gloom of night ; 
Lead thou me on, light thou my way, 
Unto the clear and perfect day. 

Oh give me faith to cling to thee ; 
And feel thy strength upholding me; 
Be thou my mark, my aim, and end, 
On Thee my every hope depend ! 
When all these shifting scenes are o'er, 
Oh, give me them, I'll ask no more, 
When done is all this pain and strife, 
A portion of the Tree of Life ! 



OUR FUTURE." 



' Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: 
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble ; for the day of the Lord cometh, for it 
is nigh at hand." — Joel ii : i. 

What are the signs of the times, my friend. 

Look out to the distant horizon, 
Doth the coming darkness a storm portend. 

Or a cloud of dust uprising .^^ 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. I55 



Is it the tramp of a mighty host, 
Nearing their place of destination ? 

Or the wild pulse-beat and answering throb 
Of the heart of an outraged nation ? 



Do we rest our hopes on a human hand ? 

And trust in its wisdom to guide us ? 
Do we build our fabric upon the sand, 

That the treacherous tide may leave us ? 
Or with a faith reaching up to the sky, 

Anchored fast to the Rock of Ages ? 
Do we trust our all to that watchful eye, 

And the arm that will ne'er forsake us ? 



Have' we not been tried by flood and fire, 

By war and pestilential breath ? 
Do not drouth and thousand ills conspire 

'Till we breathe an atmosphere of death? 
And can we not see a chastening rod 

In our trial and tribulation? 
And strive to win the smale of our God, 

And a blessing upon our nation ? 



156 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

Too long have we lived our short-sighted way, 

Deeming our strength unrivaled by none ; 
Building defenses we boastfully say, 

Would defy any nation under the sun. 
Behold the sun-kissed valley of gold, 

The world's pride and the boast of our clime; 
From happy, peaceful pursuits we are told, 

How awful the change in an instant of time. 



Without warning, rivers turn from their course, 

And smiling villages miles around 
Quake at the breath of the " Master's word " 

Disappear forever under ground. 
Does it not fore-warn us of that day, 

Which we hasten by idle profanation, 
When the hills and valleys shall melt away 

At the breath of His indignation ? 



What are the signs of the times, my friend ? 

Look out to the distant horizon, 
Doth the coming darkness, a storm portend 

Or a cloud of dust uprising ? 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 1 57 

Is it the tramp of a mighty host, 
Nearing their place of destination ? 

Or the wild pulse-beat, and answering throb 
Of the heart of an outraged nation ? 



THE REALITY OF LIFE. 

*' Thou wilt shew me the path of life.'' — Psalm xvi : 11. 

Life is not all that I painted, 
In the roseate days of youth ; 

Virtue is with vice so tainted, 

Falsehoods wears the face of truth. 

We who trusted, so believing, 

Found our hopes to ashes turned ; 

Golden dreams our hearts deceiving, 
High resolves within us burned. 

Paradise seemed just before us, 
Almost within reach of hand ; 

Now the distance widens to us, 
Death divides the promised land. 



158 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

We have loved, and we have trusted, 
Bitter has experience been ; 

But the lesson fate entrusted, 

Plain revealed God's hand within. 

We have learned the saddening lesson, 
False is earth, though fair to view; 

Nothing firm our hearts to rest on 
But Jehovah's word is true. 

Empires crumble, time cloth cover 
Monarchs 'neath oblivion's wing; 

Jesus lives and reigns forever, 

Earth the footstool of " our king." 

We are shadows on earth's dial, 
And like shadows fade away, 

Struggling hard with self denial 
'Till the night shuts out the day. 

We shall sleep but not forever, 
We shall 'wake to life again; 

Our immortal souls live ever, 
When our bodies sink in pain. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. T59 

We shall die and be forgotten, 

By the busy world around ; 
But good deeds have good begotten, 

When the dead sleep underground. 

Better than to live in story. 

Or the vain world's praise to win. 

Is our Fathers crown of glory. 
When He bids us " enter in." 



MY TRUST." 



" And He took up little children in His arms and blessed them and said, "of such 
IS the kingdom of God." — Lnke xviii : 16. 



O clustering, sunny locks 
Of curling auburn hair ; 
O precious little heads 

Unused to think of care. 
Mine has grown old with years, 
Burdened with doubts and fears, 
With wisdom born of tears. 

And sad experience. 



l6o GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

little eyes, brimful of glee, 
That all day long, laugh merrily; 
O, little faces smooth and fair, 
Unruffled by a single care ; 

1 sigh to think, Time's rapid wing 
To you will many changes bring ; 
And oft those tender chords will wring 

With sad experience. 

O, little hearts so full of trust, 
Must your fond hopes too, turn to dust ? 
Your dreams and aspirations high, 
Like mine, full early, born to die ; 
'Tis even so, but God can shield, 
My tender lambs to Him I yield, 
The book of destiny is sealed, 
Lift up thine eyes ! 

O, little hands that find in play, 
Some fresh amusement, day by day; 
Full soon your joys must lay aside, 
To stem the World's unequal tide ; 
O, may they, working with a will, 
Accomplish good instead of ill ; 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. i6l 



Labors of love, of faith and trust, 
When mine all crumbled into dust, 
Forgotten lie. 



O' 



O, busy, busy little feet, 

Your task is light, your burden sweet ; 

You know not, how the years now fled. 

Have taught me cautiously to tread ; 

And inexperienced feet will stray, 

So often from the narrow way ; 

My trust I place in One above, 

To shield thee with a Father's Love ; 

And 'mid temptation, toil and strife. 

Point out to thee a better life. 

Through gates beyond. 



"WEARY PILGRIM REST." 

"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God." — Hebrews iv: 9. 

The subject of this poem, an aged gentleman, belonging to a 
numerous and respected family, had by intemperance and its at- 
tendant vices so alienated himself from them, that after years of 
repentance, he died friendless and alone. — Com. 

All his griefs and toils are o er, 
Ne'er to sin or sorrow more ; 
Jesus turns none from His door, 
Weary Pilgrim rest ! 

We have faults we would not own, 
We shall reap what we have sown, 
Death relieves when weary grown. 
Lay him down to rest ! 

Once he felt a father's pride, 
For the loved ones at his side, 
Strange that years should so divide, 
Strange this world of ours. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. l6? 

Once a mother bent above above him, 
Asked God's benison upon him, 
Then to die with none to love him, 

Strange these hearts of ours. 

O thou young man in thy prime, 
Do not kneel at Bacchus shrine. 
Do not crush love's tender vine 
Lest it droop and die. 

Lest neglected and alone. 
When the pulse has feeble grown, 
We should heave the dying moan. 
With no loved one nigh. 

It will not defile you now, 
Just to touch that pallid brow. 
Death has stamped its impress now. 
Lay him down to rest ! 

All his toils and grief are o'er, 
Ne'er to sin or sorrow more ; 
Jesus turns none from His door. 
Weary Pilgrim, rest ! 



A VISION OF HOME. 

" The memory of the just is blessed. " — Proverbs x: 7. 
" Keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother. 
Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. 
When thou goest it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest it shall keep thee, and 
when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee." — Proverbs vi: 20-22. 

I am lonely, though cheerful I strive to appear ; 

I am thinking of friends that I never may see ; 
And vainly I wipe the fast-falling tear, 

For I feel that my loved ones, are weeping 
for me. 

At morning and evening like incense arise. 
From my home on the hill-side, the voices of 
prayer ; 
And if ever I reach that blest home in the skies, 
'Twill be your intercessions, that led me safe 
there. 

I see the old homestead at evening twilight. 
The welcoming gate, and the towering trees ; 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 1 65 

And I pass o'er the threshold, in dream-land 
by night, 
And worship with you, though none but God 
sees. 

I see the old church with worshipers few, 
Who met there for prayer, in the days that 
are gone ; 
And I long to make known there, my presence 
to you, 
To join in your praises, and echo your song. 

But distance divides us, and there is decreed, 
A separate path for the people of God ; 

It is ours to follow^ wherever it leads, 

To bear up the cross, and bow to the rod. 

God speed the glad day, when again we shall 

meet, 

'Till then I will think o'er the past like a 

dream ; 

A beautiful dream, in which loved ones I greet, 

And *:hc larther apart, the nearer they seem. 



THEY MISS ME. 

" Sorrowing most of all that they should see his face no more."— Acts xx : 38. 

They miss me, they miss me, 

'Tis saddening to think, — 
How each fond tie is riven, 

How severed each Hnk. 
The circle now scattered 

That once was so near ; 
The smile of affection 

Now memory's tear. 

There sits the fond mother 

Who guarded my youth, 
And taught the first lessons 

Of wisdom and truth ; 
The form once majestic. 

The brow that was fair, 
Now bending with years, 

And furrowed by care. 

The brown eyes so bright, 
Are faded and dim ; 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 1 67 

The luxuriant locks 

Now whitened and thin; 
But fairer, oh, fairer, 

Than beauty can be, 
Was the soul that looked out, 

In childhood to me. 

I long for the old time. 

But childhood is vain, 
For when I was with you, 

I caused you much pain ; 
But now I am older 

And sadder, 'tis true. 
The years brought me wisdom 

I might learned of you. 

And brother, thou dearest 

Of all earthly ties ; 
How oft my petitions 

Go up to the skies, 
I'hat our Father may bless 

Thee, in ways yet unknown, 
And in Heaven may claim 

Thee, as one of his own. 



INVOCATION. 

" He that walketh uprightly, walketh surely." — Proverbs 10:9. 
Written on the Baptism and admission into the church of fourteen young persons, 
who were associates of the Author. 

O, what a blessed sight, to see 
The young pledging themselves to Thee ; 
O Father, from sin keep them free, — 
Thine wholly let them ever be. 
Through life, death, and Eternity. 

So frail are we, so prone to sin, 
The tempter drowns the voice within ; 
And often when the good might win, 
The Evil One has entered in. 

Dear Savior, Thou canst pity feel, 
O, with Thy servants gently deal, 
Upon our foreheads set Thy seal, 
And Thy Almighty arm reveal. 

Be thou our Guide when first we start, 
That we from grace may not depart; 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 1 69 

'Mid peaceful home, or busy mart, 
Write Thou, Thy impress on the heart. 

Give us a portion of Thy Grace, 
That we, who have not seen Thy face, 
Throusjh faith, believing, earn a place, 
'Mid those who run the heavenly race. 

Keep us in youth, support in age, 
In grief, O comfort and assuage ; 
O, may we love thy sacred page, 
That points us to our heritage. 

And should at last our feeble eyes, 
Pierce the dark veil and rend the skies. 
Shall we behold the home that lies 
In the Jerusalem we prize ? 

O, shall we then, at Thy command, 
Assemble at the Lord's right hand ? 
We pray for Grace to sin withstand, 
And trust to reach that better land. 



"CONVALESCENT." 

"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help " 

"My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth." — Psali 



From the grasp of death, from the couch of pain, 
The Lord has raised me up again ; 
And almost when my soul despaired, 
His tender mercies I have shared, 

O when the pulse has feeble grown. 
And every hope of life has flown ; 
The heart of friend may pity feel, 
But Jesus' hand alone can heal. 

The voice of friend is sweet to hear, 
To feel their presence, doubly dear ; 
Oh ! human sympathy is sweet, 
But lacking Thine, still incomplete. 

How near "death's messenger" may come, 
And yet not bid us welcome home ! 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. lyi 

How frail this tenement of clay, 
The prison of the soul to-day. 

Sweet is the sparkling draught of Youth, 
Unquenched the flame of Love and Truth ; 
But, oh ! Those moments will not linger, 
Told off by Time's relentless finger. 

The cradle and our mother's breast, 
May calm awhile the billow's crest ; 
But passing these, life's cruel sea- 
Speeds onward to Eternity. 

Yet every clasp of loving hand, 
Each kindly deed to others planned, 
That once the spark of hope has fanned, 
Are mile-stones to that better land. 

How insignificant appear 
The world and all that we hold dear ; 
When fever wastes the mortal frame, 
A.nd death extinguishes the flame ! 

How oft have I upon that bed, 
Like faithful Hezekiah plead ; 



172 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

That it might be the will of God, 
To turn from me His chastening rod ! 

And well I know, Thy hand hath led, 
Else I were numbered with the dead; 
And now returning health shall find, 
Thy. many mercies borne in mind. 



"AUTUMN REFLECTIONS." 

" Man that is born of woman is of few days, and full of trouble.'' 
" He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down : he fleeth also as a shadow, and 
continueth not "—Job 14:1:2. 

Yellow leaves lie all around me, 
See ! the trees are nearly bare. 

How they flutter, how they rustle, 
Falling slowly through the air. 

Dust to dust again they mingle, 
All the wealth of Summer's pride ; 

So our forms to dust will moulder. 
When our souls are glorified. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 173 

One by one, the earth receives us, 

One by one our seasons go ; 
Soon our locks, now sunny golden, 

Will be whitened o'er with snow. 

Nature is an index given, 

Whereby we, our fate can read ; 

And the leafless branches sighing. 
Are the mourning hearts that bleed. 

There is not a voice in nature, 

There is not a sound I hear; 
But is linked in tones of sadness, 

With some past scene ever dear. 

There is not a tree or flower, 

But a moral will impart ; 
And the very earth beneath me 

Is endeared unto my heart. 

Autumn is the fare-well season, 

And it wrings my heart with pain ; 

As I think of my dear loved ones. 
Sleeping on the Southern plain 



174 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

Even now the autumn sunset, 
Gilds the tree-tops in farewell ; 

When another season brings you, 
Shall I be here! Who can tell 



I 



"WAITING FOR THE MORNING." 

" Mysoulwaiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say^ 
^^zor^- than they that watch for the morning."— Psalm cxxx: 6. 

The orbs their mighty courses run, 
Each his allotted journey done. 
Silent they march around the sun, , 
And the stars go^ one by one, 

Waiting for the morning. 

The birds their nightly chorus sing, 
While each one sits with folded wing, 
To hail with joy the twilight king. 
And myriad insect voices ring, 

Waiting for the morning. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT, 



75 



.But man alone of all the train, 
Lulls to sleep .the throbbing brain, 
And forgets the instant pain ; 
Waking, joins the sweet refrain 

Waiting for the morning. 

All our hopes before us lie, 
And we pass the present by, 
Groping, when we scarce know why. 
Watching anxiously the sky, 

Waiting for the morning. 

Sorrow will not always stay, 
Darkest hours will pass away, 
Even midnight turns to day ; 
So we hope, and w^atch, and pray. 

Waiting for the morning. 

Waiting, waiting, spirit say. 
Doth the vision fade away ? 
Or increase as day by day 
Raven locks are turning gray, 

Waiting for the morning ? 



176 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

Spirit, let our faith increase, 
Give our hearts of doubt, surcease, 
Give our burdened souls release, 
Grant us soon the dawn of peace, 

Heaven's blissful morning. 



DUTY. 

" I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me." — Philippians iv : 13. 

O' there is a duty, that's sweeter 

Than pleasure the world can impart ; 
The measure by far is completer, 

Because it lays next to my heart. 
When disease siezes hold of the frame, 

And pleasures no longer allure ; 
God's means are not always the same. 

We trust Him and learn to endure. 

We trust Him, ah ! there is the spring. 
From whence all true pleasures arise ; 

Our trials are sent us to bring 

Our wandering thoughts to the skies. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 1 77 

And never before did we know, 

The strength of his power and might ; 

Until by affliction laid low, 

We sought Him to lead us aright. 

Though weak in ourselves, yet how strong 

Is the arm that leans on our God, 
E'en while we submit to a wrong. 

Or bow to His chastening rod. 
Contented, this life is a feast, 

Wherever we're called on to dwell ; 
He knoweth our needs, e'en the least, 

For He doeth wisely and well. 

Thus by unseen hands we are led, 

Watched over, though seeming alone ; 
Thus He weaveth our life's tangled thread. 

In a beautiful woof of His own. 
And life grows fairer and brighter. 

As our sun is nearing the west, 
And what seemed a burden, grows lighter 

As we approach the " City of Rest." 



LET ME go; 



THE PILGRIM S LAMENT. 



" But go thou thy way 'till the end be: For thou shall rest, and stand in thy lot 
at the end of the days." — Daniel xii : 13. 

I have tasted joys so fleeting, 
Dying while their vows repeating, 

Dead e're half the story told ; 
Let me go, why should I linger ? 
Time has laid his heavy finger. 

On each tress of burnished gold. 

Once the star of hope allured, 
My success in life assured. 

Saw the mirage fair beyond ; 
Vainly I pursued through gloaming, 
Vainly all these years been roaming. 

But the goal is still beyond. 

Steadily the shadows lengthen, 
Pray I for that faith to strengthen 
I shall need as age creeps on. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 1 79 

Grasping shadows, nothing real, 
Losing hope, and losing zeal, 
So the wheel of life turns on. 

r 

On, though oft my feet grew weary, 
On, although the way seem dreary, 

Homeward still my footsteps tend ; 
Let me go, why should 1 linger ? 
When Old Time's relentless finger 

All my joys and sorrows blend? 

Faith alone remains to cheer me, 
Faith in One who ne'er decqived me, 

Unto Thee, I look for aid; 
When these shifting scenes are o'er, 
May my ransomed spirit soar, 

Where Thy heavenly courts are laid. 



TOIL ON. 

Toil on ! Brother, toil on, 

See the goal ahead ; 
He only wins who follows, 

By the Savior led. 

The morning hours are passing, 
Let none go to waste ; 

The fields are white to Harvest, 
Haste, O Brother, Haste! 

Toil on ! Brother, toil on. 
Nothing else will win ; 

See the reinforcements 
Satan's bringing in. 

We have need to labor. 

Earnest in the right ; 
For the day is passing, 

Soon will come the night. 



I 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. i8l 

Toil on ! Brother, toil on, 

For your fellow-man ; 
All along Life's journey, 

Do what good you can ; 

Lifting up the fallen, 

Speaking words of cheer ; 
Tell the weak and erring, 

Jesus Christ is near. 

Nearest when you're weakest, 

In your darkest day; 
Ready to relieve you 

If you only pray. 

At your heart He's knocking. 

Will you let him in ? 
He has come to win you, 

From the paths of sin. 



SONGS IN THE NIGHT. 

I heard a song in the night-time, 

Wafted from the angelic choirs ; 
Harpings by seraphs celestial, 

As their hands swept the golden lyres. 
My heart went up with the music, 

Sweet music, my lips cannot sing, 
Until I stand in the presence. 

Of Jesus my Savior and king. 

A song I hear in the night-time. 

When the busy world is at rest ; 
And in the silence I'm thinking 

Of friends in the land of the blest ; 
I wonder what they are singing, 

I catch not the words of the song; 
My inmost soul is uplifted, 

I long to be one of that throng. 

REFRAIN. 

O that wonderful song, 
Sung by the glorified throng ; 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 183 

That unpronounceable song. 
O I long for the day, 
When my sin's washed away, 

I, too, may join in that song. 



PRAYER FOR DIVINE AID. 

Reveal Thyself, Almighty God ! 

And let Thy power come down, 
Let sinners tremble at Thy word, 

And scoffers at Thy frown ! 
Speak from these feeble lips of clay. 

Such words of living fire. 
That colder hearts will warmly glow. 

And other hearts inspire. 

Lay bare Thine arm. Thy mighty arm ! 

Thou ancient of all days ; 
That we who love Thee, shall not stand 

Alone to speak Thy praise. 



184 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

But others now in darkest night, 
Of vice and sin and shame, 

Shall hear Thy gentle, pleading voice, 
And learn to love Thy name. 

O Thou who art the only source, 

Of strength and power divine, 
We look to Thee, and Thee alone, 

O make Thy face to shine ; 
And in that light, O, may we see. 

Our hearts as in Thy sight. 
And know that Jesus blood alone, 

Can cleanse and make them right. 



"HOME AND HEAVEN!" 

LAST WORDS OF A DYING BOY. 

I am going home, dear mother. 
Do not weep those tears for me, 

Death will open wide the portal, 
And my soul will then be free. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 1 85 

I would fain have lingered by you, 
As your comfort and your stay, 

But the hand that takes me from you, 
Will provide some other way. 

I am going home, dear sisters, 

Do not mourn for me and weep, 
When you stand beside my body, 

In its last eternal sleep. 
I can never walk beside you, 

Nor your earthly burdens share ; 
But we have an " Elder Brother," 

Take them all to Him In prayer. 

I am going home, dear brother. 

There is much for you to do ; 
Do not falter in your duty, 

But be tender, firm and true. 
Care for mother and for sisters. 

As their needs you daily see : 
And prepare to meet your Savior, 

For you too must follow me. 



l86 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

I am going home, companions, 
If our friendship here was sweet, 

what will it be in Heaven, 
When our journey is complete ! 

1 hope you will not forget me, 
When you see my face no more ; 

But prepare at once to meet me 
Over on the other shore. 

REFRAIN. 

I am going home to-day, 
How can you bid me stay ? 

I am going home to Heaven, 
Yes ! I'm going home to-day. 



LINES 

INSCRIBED TO MISS HELEN CHAPMAN, 

On the occasion of her Twenty-first Birthday, at the Request of Robert E. Smith, 
of VVilbraham Theological Seminary. 

Twenty-one years. 

That is not long, 
As God counts time, 

An index page, 

A prelude song, 
To notes divine. 

From infancy. 

To years mature, 
His hand hath led, 

And trusting Him, 

lliou art secure, 
And shall be fed. 

In childhood fair, 

With earnest eye, 
And thoughtful face, 



l88 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

Remembered still. 
Time passing by, 
Gave added grace. 

I joy to think 
In girlhood days, 

Thy heart was given 
Without reserve. 
To Him whose praise 

Fills Earth and Heaven. 

And He who crowns, 
Thy natal day, 

With wishes pure, 
And hopes high-born. 
Will guard thy way 

And make it sure. 

O, may He bless 
Thy onward way. 

Basket and store ; 
Supply each need. 
Until that day, 

You want no more. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 189 

And when you stand 

Before the Throne, 
In Him complete, 

Your life-work done. 

The victory won, 
It will be sweet. 



THE TWO SIFTERS, 

OR CHRIST VERSUS SATAN. 
** Satan hath desire to have you, that he may sift you as wheat." Luke xxii : 31 

Out in the gutter 

And filth of the street, 
Satan is sifting, 

Is sifting the wheat. 
Saving only the refuse 

And chaff, — 
The curse, the oath, 

And the ribald laugh. 



IQO GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

These, these you can hear, 
Each night on the street. 

Where Satan is sifting, 
Is sifting the wheat. 

Out where the red-Hghts 

Are drawing them in 
To the haunts of vice, 

And the Hnks of sin. 
The wheat falls out. 

But the chaff remains, 
And the soul is covered 

With guilty stains. 
O, flee from his grasp 

E're his work is complete; 
For Satan is sifting, 

Is sifting the wheat. 

Do you not know. 

Every grain will be lost ? 

You are selling your soul 
At a fearful cost ; 

Truth, honor, and conscience 
Are slipping away, 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 19I 

But the chaff is reserved 

For the judgment day. 
God pity the soul, 

In its ruin complete, 
When Satan sifts out 

The last grain of wheat. 

Down in the heart 

Of the tried, it is sweet 
To know that Jesus 

Is sifting His wheat. 
The chaff flies out, 

The good will remain. 
And Jesus will store 

The golden grain ; 
And our greatest joy, 

When in Heaven we meet, 
Will be that Jesus 

Sifted the wheat. 



CONSECRATION. 

O Savior dear, can I forget, 

What Thou hast borne for me ? 
The agony, the bloody sweat, 

The death upon the tree. 
The jeers of men, the crown of thorns, 

That pierced Thy kingly brow; 
Me-thinks my stony heart would melt, 

Could I behold Thee now. 

Forbid, O, Lord, I should forget. 

But let the memory be. 
Stronger than any earthly tie, 

To draw me unto Thee. 
So shall I grow in faith and love, 

More like to Thee each day, 
'Till Thou complete Thy work in me. 

And call me hence away. 

'Till then, O teach my lips to pray, 
And fill my heart with song ; 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. I93 

Until I see Thee as Thou art, 

Whom I have loved so long. 
Then will I never cease to praise, 

While endless ages roll, 
That love that stooped, from Heaven to Earth, 

To save a sinful soul. 



COME UNTO ME. 

Silent as the gentle dew, 

Falls upon the verdant sod, 
So unto a heart that's true. 

Comes the benison of God. 
Gently as a mother stills. 

The first born upon her breast; 
So He bids thee, weary one, 

Come thou unto Me and rest. 

Come to me! O, sweetest voice, 
Draw me from myself away ; 

I will make the Lord my choice, 
Walk with Him the better way. 



194 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

Now I know Thee as Thou art. 
Whom I never knew before ; 

Come in and possess my heart, 
Never, never leave me more. 

Sinner, e'er it be too late, 

Is your heart, with God at rest ? 
Do not for a moment wait, 

Bid Him welcome to your breast. 
Time is swiftly passing by, 

Death and judgment are in view, 
See the loving Savior nigh. 

Waiting graciously for you. 



THE SECOND COMING. 

Once in His love for us, He came to die; 
In pity bore our sins, I know not why. 
Sin wounded Him, its darts were at Him hurled, 
Now He comes to judge the world. 



GEMS OF IHOUGHT. I95 

O, bitter thought, for me He shed those tears, 
Bore cruel words, harsh looks and taunting 

jeers ; 
Pride wounded Him, in scorn her lip was curled, 
Now He comes to judge the world. 

You who spurn Him, yet shall know, at your 

cost. 
If He leave you to yourself you are lost. 
V^in all the boasts, that scofiing worldlings 

hurled, 

When He comes to judge the world. 

REFRAIN. 

Hallelujah ! Hallelujah ! 
See the cross on the battle-flag unfurled! 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! 
Jesus comes to judge the world ! 



THE CHRISTIAN VOLUNTEER. 

We have volunteered for service, 
Neath the banner of our King; 

He has led us forth to conquer, 
And His praise we love to sing. 

Since our Savior goes before us, 
We've no fears to meet the foe ; 

Our's to follow, when He leads us, 
See His banner onward go. 

We'll be faithful, truly faithful, 
'Till our term on earth expire ; 

We'll be ready for the Master, 

When He bids us come up higher. 

Then before our great commander, 
We shall pass in grand review ; 



GEMS OF THOUGHTv 1 97 

And be mustered out of service, 
When our warfare all is through. 

REFRAIN. 

'Twill be sweet, to tell the story, as we meet, 
How His loving hand has led us, to His feet! 



IN MEMORIAM. 

Written after the burial of Charlotte Findley, September 19, 1889. 

Our hearts are very sad to-day, 

So sad we cannot tell ; 
But we have placed our trust in Him 

Who doeth aU things well. 
A dear one from her home has gone, 

We see the vacant chair ; 
Companionship with her was sweet ; 

We miss her everywhere. 

God giveth his beloved sleep, 
After long hours of pain ; 



198 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 

In which her lips were never heard 

To murmur or complain. 
So, purified from earthly dross, 

By sufferings severe, 
Her eyes beheld the Heavenly hills 

Unclouded by a tear. 

O mystery of mysteries, 

O dark, unfathomed sea, 
That shuts our loved ones out of sight 

And bears them unto Thee. 
O grave that closes o'er our hopes. 

Of this vain world below, 
O Death, how oft thy dreadful sting. 

It has been ours to know. 

No human lips can speak the grief, 

That human hearts can feel ; 
No earthly balm relieve the wounds. 

That Heaven alone can heal. 
Spirit divine, breathe in our hearts, 

Submission to Thy will ; 
Speak to our overburdened souls 

The message, " Peace, be still." 



COMING TO THE JORDAN. 

I am coming to the Jordan, 

I can hear the waters roll, 
But I do not fear the crossing, 

Jesus careth for my soul. 
He is faithful that has promised, 

Not a word can ever fail. 
And the soul that trusteth in Him, 

Shall have power to prevail. 

I am coming to the Jordan, 

Heavenly breezes fan my brow ; 
Poor indeed are earthly pleasures, 

Little care I for them now ; 
For a gentle voice is calling, 

Fear thou not to trust in Me ; 
For 'twas I, when Peter doubted, 

Stilled the waves of Galilee. 

I am coming to the Jordan, 

As Life's sun sinks in the West; 



200 GEMS OF THOUGHT. 



Lo ! Another light is breaking 
From the Valley of the Blest. 

By its light I see the Jordan, 

But its waves have ceased to roll, 

And my Blessed Lord is waiting, 
With a welcome for my soul. 



FOREKNOWN. 

My Savior looks down 

From His home in the skies ; 
He knows all my sorrows, 

My hard sacrifice. 

He feels every throb 
Of the agonized heart ; 

He numbers each tear-drop 
Before they may start. 

Should I fear for my future 
When this much I know, 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 20I 

Whatever betide me, 
He has ordered it so. 

The most of my jewels 

Are crumbled to dust, 
But my treasures are laid 

Where they never can rust. 

I must go on my way, 

Till my race shall be run ; 
The journey completed, 

And the victory won. 

Not one step before me 

Can I see as I go ; 
But 'tis best, for my Savior 

Has ordered it so. 



BE NOT FAITHLESS, BUT BELIEVE. 

I heard a voice, so sweet and clear, 

It fell upon my ravished ear ; 

It spoke to me of sins forgiven, 

Of faith in God~of rest in Heaven, 

I heard it in the morning hours, 

When all the Earth was decked with flowers • 

It told a home the Lord had made, 

Where fairest flowers would never fade. 

I heard a voice in midday air, 

It seemed to come from everywhere ; 

It told me of a land divine, 

That needed not the sun to shine. 

It said there was a land of rest 

That sheltered all the world oppressed ; 

And there none ever toiled for bread, 

For Jesus all His children fed. 

I heard the voice at twilight glow. 
It spoke in cadence soft and low, 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 20' 



Of land that lies not far away, 
Where reigns one long, unending day. 
I said, dear Lord, can there still be, 
In that blest land a place for me ? 
What is the royal fare, I pray, 
To take me to the realm of day ? 

I felt a breath, so soft and sweet. 
It stirred the grasses at my feet ; 
I turned and saw my Savior stand, 
To guide me to the better-land. 
He spoke in tones so loud and clear, 
It seemed that all the world could hear: 
" Believing one ! Did you not know ? 
/ paid the passage long ago ! " 

CHORUS. 

Hark to the voice ! 

Hark to the voice ! 
At morn, at noon, or dewy eve ! 

Hark to the voice ■! 

That gentle voice ! 
" Be ye not faithless but believe ! " 



EVENTIDE. 

The hour of rest is coming, 

I see the twilight glow ; 
The dusky shades of evening 

Hang o'er the vale below. 
The limbs once spry and agile, 

Now cautious tread and slow, 
For through the silent valley. 

My weary feet must go. 

The friends that cheered my path-way 

In the early morning hours, 
E'er the noon of life, had vanished, > 

Like the dew upon the flowers ; 
And they who walked beside me, 

In the noon-tide's fervid ray, 
Grew tired of their journey, 

And now rest along the way. 

But I may not pause or falter. 
Lest I fail to win the race ; 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 205 

Though my weary heart is sighing, 

For some quiet resting-place. 
Deeper, thicker, fall the shadows 

In the valley at my feet, 
But the mountains are resplendent, 

With the sun-light, oh ! how sweet. 

So I raise my eyes to view them. 

In their lustre soft and bright ; 
And unconscious I am walking, 

More by faith and less by sight. 
All at once the gloom is lifted, 

As by angel forms upborne ; 
And there bursts upon my vision, 

Heaven's bright, eternal morn. 

Now the cheering, loud hosannas 

From a myriad voices ring, 
" Blessed is the Great Redeemer, 

Who has ransomed us," they sing. 
Then from earth, and sky, and Heaven, 

Come a throng no man can name. 
Shouting, " Glory in the highest,^ 

Worthy is the Lamb that's slain." 



HE WILL MEET US AT THE BAR. 

When the court convenes in Heaven, 

And the Judge sits on the throne; 
When the secrets we have guarded, 

Shall be publicly made known ; 
Nothing covered, shall be hidden, 
Mysteries come forth unbidden, 

He will know us as we are. 
There to Him, all praise ascribing, 
Where no case is won thro' bribing, 

He will judge us at His bar. 

Wealth, distinction, social standing, 

We shall lay them all aside, 
And appear at the tribunal. 

Robbed of all our earthly pride. 
We can never hope for clearance. 
But must put in our appearance. 

None can hinder or debar ; 
Not a case will miss His hearing. 
Rapidly the time is nearing, 

He will judge us at His bar. 



GEMS OF THOUGHT. 207 

Power and pride will go for nothing, 

Money will not pay our fare 
Into the Celestial City ; 

No defaulter enters there. 
Vainly would men hide the traces, 
Sin has stamped upon their faces, 

With its deep unsightly scar. 
God, who deals not in detractions, 
Knows the motives for our actions — 

He will judge us at His bar. 

Slowly the wheel of time turns on, 

Nations and men are born and die ; 
And countless myriads now throng 

The vaulted court room of the sky. 
We, who o'er wrongs in silence wept. 
While tardy justice idly slept, 

Behold your advocate afar. 
Then come pain or come disaster, 
'Tis a kind and loving Master, 

That will judge us at the bar. 



7/ 77 ^ 

if'/ 



